Introduction:

High blood pressure is a serious medical condition that significantly increases the risks of cardiovascular and other diseases. Most hypertensive people are unaware that they are. It is very important to measure blood pressure periodically, it is the only way to detect the disease.

Objective:

To assess indicators of morbidity due to hypertension and pre-hypertension in the country, based on the findings of the prevalence, treatment and control of the disease given by the National Health Survey, concluded in 2019.

Methods:

As part of the National Health Survey, Cuba 2018-2019, a cross-sectional study was carried out, with the aim of identifying the prevalence of high blood pressure, according to sociodemographic variables, geographic area of ​​residence, at the time of diagnosis; the management and control of known hypertensive patients and the classification of new hypertensive patients according to the systolic/diastolic figures presented at the time of diagnosis. It included the population aged 15 and over, residing in urban and rural areas.

Results:

The prevalence of arterial hypertension in Cuba was 37.3 %, higher in women with 40.2 %, both globally and in urban and rural geographic areas. Hypertensive patients of both sexes predominated in urban areas. Hypertension increased as age did.

Conclusions:

There was an increase in the total prevalence of arterial hypertension in Cuba in the last 24 years. This was higher than the dispensarization reported at the national level in the first level of health care.

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