[Control of arterial pressure in patients undergoing anti-hypertensive treatment in Brazil: Controlar Brazil].

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) control is crucial in arterial hypertension (AH). OBJECTIVE To determine the percentage of patients requiring specific BP control goals treated in medical offices throughout Brazil. METHODS Each researcher, from a total number of 291, had to evaluate, through conventional BP measurement performed during five consecutive days, the two first patients treated on that day. We determined the number of hypertensive patients treated for at least four weeks who presented BP control, according to the goals established for the risk group they belonged to. RESULTS A total of 2,810 patients were assessed in 291 centers. The individuals were divided in groups as follows: A (AH stages 1 and 2, low and moderate additional risk) = 1,054 (37.51%); B (AH and borderline BP, high additional risk ) = 689 (24.52%); C (AH and borderline BP, very high additional risk, including diabetic patients) = 758 (26.98%) and D (AH with nephropathy and proteinuria > 1 g/l) = 309 (11%). The BP means in the population were: 138.9 +/- 17.1 and 83.1 +/- 10.7 mmHg. Factors associated with a worse BP control were: age, abdominal circumference, diabetes, smoking and coronary disease. The BP control percentages in each of the groups were, respectively: 61.7; 42.5; 41.8 and 32.4%. CONCLUSION The low BP control according to the predefined goals, as demonstrated in the results, reinforces the necessity to establish measures to promote better control rates.