Objective. To assess the blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in a population of hypertensive patients with access to care under a government-financed program, the Cardiovascular Health Program (CHP). Design. A cross-sectional and multicenter study. Setting. 52 primary care centers, metropolitan area of Santiago, Chile. Participants. 1,194 patients were selected by a systematic random sampling from a universe of 316,654 hypertensive patients. Key Measurements. Demographic information, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and CVRF were extracted from medical records of patients followed for a 12-month period. Results. 59.7% of patients reached target BP <140/90 mmHg. More women were captured in the sampling (2.1 : 1), achieving better BP control than men. Diabetic patients (26.4%) had worse BP control than nondiabetics. Antihypertensive medications were used in 91.5%, with multidrug therapy more frequent in patients with higher BP and more difficult control. Conclusions. The success in improving the BP control to values <140/90 mmHg from 45.3% to 59.7% underscores the contribution of this program in the Chilean primary care cardiovascular preventive strategies. However, fewer hypertensive men than women were captured by this program, and it is of concern the underperforming of BP control observed in diabetics.

Background Limited information exists on blood pressure (BP) control factors and adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy (Rx) in developing countries. Methods Cross-sectional study in randomly selected 992 hypertensive patients under a Chilean national comprehensive Cardiovascular Health Program (CVHP). Association of education, income, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, psychosocial characteristics, smoking, and alcohol abuse with BP control and adherence were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. Results BP control (<140/90 mmHg) was achieved in 63.1% of patients, with 38.4% adherent to Rx. Uncontrolled BP significantly associated with male sex (OR: 1.73 [95% CI 1.35-2.22]), low family income, high emotional-stress-depression score, body mass index, no adherence (OR: 1.83 [95% CI 1.44 - 2.32]), multiple Rx, baseline systolic BP value, and sedentary life style. Males (OR: 1.54 [95% CI 1.23 - 1.93]), low family income, high emotional stress-depression score (OR: 2.15 [95% CI 1.68 - 2.76]), low social support, and uncontrolled BP (OR: 1.52 [95% CI 1.22-1.90]) associated with no adherence. Conclusions Comparable BP control (63.1%) to higher-income societies was observed. Uncontrolled BP associated significantly to no adherence and both to male sex, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors. Global low adherence (38.4%) and improved BP control and adherence in diabetics were noted.

El control de la presión arterial (PA) es fundamental en reducir la morbi-mortalidad en hipertensos, pero con resultados hasta la fecha insatisfactorios en Chile y en países de alto desarrollo socioeconómico. En Chile se inició en 2002 el Programa de Salud Cardiovascular (PSCV) intentando mejorar el manejo de estos pacientes. Objetivos: Evaluar características sociodemográficas, clínicas, antropométricas, psicosociales y de estilos de vida de un grupo de pacientes participantes en el PSCV, y la influencia de estos factores en el control de la PA. Métodos: Se obtuvo una muestra aleatoria de 525 pacientes (380 mujeres) de un universo de 1.533 hipertensos entre 30 y 68 años bajo seguimiento en el PSCV. Se registraron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos, antropométricos, psicosociales y de estilos de vida a través de evaluación clínica y cuestionarios validados. La PA fue medida utilizando un protocolo estándar por personal entrenado. El análisis estadístico incluyó la predicción del riesgo (Odds RATIO) de PA no controlada por las diversas características estudiadas. Resultados: El 47% de los pacientes logró una PA controlada (<140/90 mmHg). La presencia de diabetes mellitus (DM) fue documentada en el 38,5%. Factores predictores significativos de PA no controlada fueron DM, baja educación, inadecuada relación médico paciente y alto nivel de estrés emocional/depresión. Conclusiones: El PSCV ha logrado un avance importante en el control de la PA resaltando la influencia significativa de factores psicosociales. Sin embargo es preocupante la alta proporción de hipertensos diabéticos, su inferior control de PA, y la limitada captación de hombres al programa. Palabras Claves: Hipertensión arterial, control de la presión arterial, atención primaria, factores psicosociales.

Influence of psychosocial factors on adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy.Results from a Cardiovascular Health Program cohort followed in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile (Rev Med Chile 2014; 142: 1245-1252

Inadecuado control de presión arterial (PA) y baja adherencia a tratamiento farmacológico (Rx) en hipertensos son problemas persistentes globales y en Chile. Factores socioeconómicos y psicosociales han sido frecuentemente mencionados, pero escasamente en Chile. Objetivo: Evaluar control de la PA y adherencia a Rx en hipertensos seguidos en el Programa de Salud Cardiovascular (PSCV) y su asociación con factores clínicos, socioeconómicos y psicosociales.

Mechanisms of noxious effects of wildfire air pollution over human healthWildfires represent a growing global public health issue, especially to the most vulnerable segment of the population (children, old people, pregnant women, patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases) exposed to smoke and other air borne contaminants generated from these events. In contrast to great cities' usual atmospheric pollution, that derives from forest fires differ in composition and its occurrence is sporadic and usually unpredictable. Exposure to atmospheric pollutants derived from forest fires has been associated to increased respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, mediated by an inflammatory systemic response, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. In people exposed to forest fire smoke an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, endothelial activation and autonomic nervous system dysfunction has been observed, that leads to tissue injury, increased prothrombotic response, increased blood pressure and changes in heart rhythm. This review analyzes the mechanisms that have been involved in generating harmful health effects in humans exposed to inhaled particulate matter and gases steaming from wildfires.

(97.1 ± 24.9 and 111.3 ± 25.7 points; 57.8 and 66.2% respectively). The same improvements were observed for the domains "Student Learning", "Organization and Evaluation", "Teaching Methodology" and "Integration". In both years, students ' perception of CCP. (Rev Med Chile 2015; 143: 175-182)

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