@article {1433712,
	title = {Prevalence of hypertension in rural populations from Ibero-America and the Caribbean},
	journal = {Rural Remote Health},
	volume = {14},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014},
	pages = {2591},
	abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors are widespread in developing countries, but little is known about cardiovascular risk profiles in rural communities from Ibero-America and the Caribbean. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the peer-reviewed literature published from 1990 to 2012 relating to the prevalence of hypertension in rural populations from Ibero-America and the Caribbean.

METHODS: A bibliographic search was conducted in MEDLINE, SCIELO and LILACS databases. Included were population-based studies in which prevalence of hypertension in adults was reported.

RESULTS: A total of 30 peer-reviewed publications were identified that reported the prevalence of hypertension in 33 143 patients. The crude hypertension prevalence reported from rural Ibero-America was 32.6\% (95\% confidence interval: 31.4-32.5\%; range: 1.8-52\%). The prevalence of hypertension was lower in aboriginal populations than in other rural communities (19.5\% vs 36\%). Only nine studies assessed the awareness, treatment, and level of control of hypertension (means 54\%, 57\%, and 14\% respectively). The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were abdominal obesity (39\%) and overweight (39\%).

CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is of public health importance in rural Ibero-America and the Caribbean, with evidence of considerable under-diagnosis, treatment, and control. There is an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and control hypertension effectively in this region.},
	keywords = {Adult, American Native Continental Ancestry Group, Awareness, Body Weights and Measures, Caribbean Region, Central America, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Rural Population, South America},
	issn = {1445-6354},
	author = {D{\'\i}az, Alejandro A and Tringler, Matias F}
}