Objective. To apply a recently proposed model and assessment tool created by the authors
for critically evaluating the data available on the prevalence of hypertension in LAC and as-sessing
their usefulness for surveillance.
Methods. A bibliographic search to identify all publications that estimated the prevalence
of hypertension was performed. Each of the papers located was assessed using a critical ap-praisal
tool.
Results. Of the 58 studies published between 1966 and 2000, only 28 of them (48%) met
the critical threshold to be considered useful for surveillance purposes. The distribution of the
28 studies in terms of their usefulness for surveillance was as follows: minimally useful, 16
studies; useful, 8 studies; and very useful, 4 studies. Several methodological shortcomings
were identified, from inadequate sampling procedures and sample size to the poor quality of the
primary data for planning purposes.
Discussion. Published studies on the prevalence of hypertension in Latin America and the
Caribbean have, as a whole, limited usefulness for surveillance activities.
|
