[Follow-up and monitoring of hypertension. Is this performed the same in the autochthonous and immigrant populations?].

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the degree of control of blood pressure (BP) in the autochthonous and immigrant populations and to find the variables linked to good control.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, observational study.

SETTING

Urban primary care team, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients with hypertension seen between 1/1/2000 and 1/7/2005 and whose origin was known: 1.063 patients in all, 931 autochthonous and 132 immigrant ones.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

The main variable was hypertension control the last time BP was taken (BP </=140/90 mm Hg and </=130/80 mm Hg in diabetics). In addition, data on country of origin, age, gender, body mass index, cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, lipaemia, tobacco dependency), further examinations (annual blood analysis and ECG every 2 years) and prescribed medication were recorded. Logistic regression was used to calculate the effect of origin on blood pressure monitoring.

RESULTS

Good BP control was achieved in 39.2% of autochthonous patients and 25% of immigrants (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 95% CI, 1.2-2.1). Nevertheless, multivariate analysis indicated age (OR, 1.029; 95% CI, 1.017-1.040) as the sole factor determining good or bad BP control.

CONCLUSIONS

The origin of the patient does not affect BP control.