Status and management of hypertension in Greece: role of the adoption of a Mediterranean diet: the Attica study

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, in a random sample of adults free of cardiovascular disease, in Greece. A secondary goal was to evaluate the association between hypertension status and adoption of the Mediterranean diet. DESIGNCross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTSOn the basis of multistage sampling, 1128 men and 1154 women older than 18 years were enrolled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESThe survey included a detailed interview and, among other clinical measurements, status and management of blood pressure were recorded. Adoption of the Mediterranean diet was assessed through a special questionnaire. RESULTSThe prevalence of hypertension was 38.2% in men and 23.9% in women (P < 0.05). The majority of men (65%) and women (40%) were untreated, and of those who were treated, only 109 of 319 (34%) had their blood pressure adequately controlled. Thus only 15% of the hypertensive population had their blood pressure well controlled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that consumption of a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 26% (odds ratio = 0.74, P = 0.008) lower risk of being hypertensive, and with a 36% (odds ratio = 1.36, P = 0.021) greater probability of having the blood pressure controlled. CONCLUSIONSA considerable proportion of the general population remain unaware of having hypertension or do not have their blood pressure well controlled. However, consumption of a Mediterranean type of diet seems to reduce rates of hypertension in the population, and may contribute to the control of hypertension at the population level.