Hypertension in Costa Rican Elderly
Author Information
Author(s): Ericka Méndez-Chacón, Carolina Santamaría-Ulloa, Luis Rosero-Bixby
Primary Institution: Centro Centroamericano de Población, Universidad de Costa Rica
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with hypertension prevalence, unawareness, and treatment among elderly Costa Ricans?
Conclusion
Hypertension is prevalent among elderly Costa Ricans, with significant unawareness and treatment gaps, especially among men.
Supporting Evidence
- Hypertension prevalence was found to be 65% among the elderly.
- 32% of men were unaware of their hypertension compared to 20% of women.
- Obesity and family history of hypertension were significant risk factors.
Takeaway
Many older people in Costa Rica have high blood pressure, but a lot of them don't know it, especially men.
Methodology
Data was collected from a nationally representative sample of about 2,800 individuals using blood pressure measurements and questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting errors among individuals who required proxy respondents.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and some individuals were classified as hypertensive without a clinical diagnosis.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 76, with 53% females; most had health insurance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: [-1.7, -0.25] for diastolic; [-4.1, -1.4] for systolic
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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