GAPS IN HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT IN A MIDDLE-INCOME COMMUNITY OF QUITO-ECUADOR: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY: A Population-Based Study

Patricia Ortiz, Yajaira Vásquez, Esperanza Arévalo, Patrick Van der Stuyft, Esteban Londoño Agudelo

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Abstract

Optimal hypertension care and control at population level significantly reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to measure the gaps in the diagnosis, care, and control of hypertension in residents of an urban community in Quito, Ecuador. A cross-sectional population-based study with a sample of 2160 persons was performed using a survey and direct blood pressure measurement. Logistical regression models were used for analyzing factors associated with the gaps, expressed as percentages. The prevalence of hypertension was 17.6% [CI 95% 17.3–17.9%]. The diagnosis gap was 6.1% [CI 95% 5.9–6.2%] among the entire population and 34.5% [CI 95% 33.7–35.3%] among persons with hypertension. No access gaps were detected; whereas the follow-up gap was 22.7% [CI 95% 21.8–23.6%] and control gap reached 43.5% [CI 95% 42.6–44.2%]. Results indicated that being male, older than 64 years, an employee, without health insurance, and not perceiving a need for healthcare, increased the risk of experiencing these gaps. Data showed appropriate access to health services and high coverage in the diagnosis was due to the application of a community and family healthcare model. Notwithstanding, we found significant gaps in the follow-up and control of hypertensive patients, especially among older males, which should warrant the attention of the Ministry of Health.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5832
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume19
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 May 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Ecuador
  • health systems
  • hypertension
  • hypertension management
  • primary health care

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