Trends in the Incidence and Mortality of Stroke in Matão, Brazil: The Matão Preventing Stroke (MAPS) Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke population-based studies in the same setting comparing time trends of rates are a gold standard method to determine the primary prevention status of stroke. Twelve years ago, we measured the stroke incidence and mortality in Matão city, Southeast of Brazil. OBJECTIVE: This second Matão stroke registry study aimed to determine the time trends in the incidence, mortality, case fatality, and functional status of patients with stroke. METHODS: This was a prospective, population-based study known as the Matão Preventing Stroke (MAPS). We determined all incident stroke events that occurred between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2016. Between the periods of November 1, 2003, to October 31, 2004, and August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2016, the rates were age adjusted to the Brazilian and world population. Functional status was measured by Barthel scale 1 year after the index event. RESULTS: We registered 81 cases of incident stroke. Demographic and cardiovascular risk factors were similar in both periods. The mean age increased by 9%, from 65.2 (95% CI 62.6-67.8) to 71.0 (95% CI 68.1-73.8) years. Between 2003-2004 and 2015-2016, the age-adjusted incidence decreased by 39% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.61; 95% CI 0.46-0.79) and mortality by 50% (IRR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31-0.94). The 1-year case fatality was 26%; approximately 56% of the patients were functionally independent, while 7% had a recurrent stroke. Compared with the results of our first registry study, these outcomes did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Our findings agree with those of previous studies, showing a decline in the incidence and mortality of stroke in Brazil. Improvements in local public health care might explain these declines.

Matão Controlling Hypertension (MatCH) project: Rationale and design.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the main risk factor for most cardiovascular diseases. A coordinated and organized system from the Brazilian Ministry of Healthy involving Family Health Strategy (FHS), a program for the prevention of chronic disease, and the Popular Pharmacy Program (PPP), which subsidizes medications for the population, could allow an earlier identification and better blood pressure (BP) control. Matão Controlling Hypertension (MatCH) is a community-based population project that aims to apply an organized, integrated and coordinated program in the city of Matão, Brazil, involving FHS and PPP in order to actively search, treat and follow-up hypertensive subjects. METHOD: This is a population community-based, interventional, follow-up study where all subjects aged ≥ 40 years assisted by the FHS program in Matão will have BP assessed monthly by trained Community Health Agents (CHA) during a domiciliary visit. Identified hypertensive subjects will be referred to FHS physicians for nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment. Most of the hypertensive drugs used will be available through the PPP. Prevalence of hypertension, awareness, demographics and risk factors will be correlated with BP control. The population study is expected to involve approximately 18.600 subjects. The study period will be four years. DISCUSSION: Considering that hypertension is asymptomatic in most cases, to reduce the population burden of BP-related deaths and diseases it is essential to detect and treat early all hypertensive patients. If we achieve our large-scale BP control, this program can be applied to other populations from developing countries.

Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness and Blood Pressure Control in Matao, Brazil: A Pilot Study in Partnership With the Brazilian Family Health Strategy Program.

BACKGROUND: Around 30% of Brazilian population is hypertensive. Brazilian's Family Health Strategy (FHS) is a community-based approach to provide primary health care and control chronic disease as hypertension. The aims of this pilot study were to study hypertension prevalence and awareness and to analyze the feasibility of FHS program with community healthy agents (CHA) to collect data about hypertensive subjects in Matao, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in subjects equal or older than 40 years old in a neighborhood belonging to FHS program. CHA were trained to collect data and to assess blood pressure (BP) with an automated device. Hypertension diagnosis was defined if systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg or subject had previous use of hypertensive drug. Chi-square test and univariate logistic regression analysis were applied with significance level of 5% and a confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: In 625 subjects, hypertension prevalence was 68.8% and women (71.9%) were more hypertensive than men (63.2%) (P = 0.02). Prevalence of hypertension increased with age group, from 46.3% (40 - 49 years) to 82.5% (70 - 79 years) (P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of pre-hypertension was 40.1%: stage 1, 25.7% and stage 2, 17.0%. Hypertension awareness was 81.8% and 79.8% reported use of anti-hypertensive drugs. BP was not controlled in 61.8% and 67.7% of them was using anti-hypertensive drugs. CHA reported no difficulties to collect data and BP assessment with the automated device. CONCLUSION: We observed a high hypertension prevalence rate, awareness, and subjects with uncontrolled hypertension even with use of anti-hypertensive drugs. CHA from FHS program are a feasible option to BP control in future studies involving larger populations.