Zila-Velasque JP, Soriano-Moreno DR, Medina-Ramirez SA, Ccami-Bernal F, Castro-Diaz SD, Cortez-Soto AG, Esparza Varas AL, Fernandez-Morales J, Olortegui-Rodriguez JJ, Pelayo-Luis IP, Zafra-Tanaka JH. Prevalence of hypertension in adults living at altitude in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS One 2023;
18:e0292111. [PMID:
37824544 PMCID:
PMC10569637 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0292111]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence of hypertension in populations living at altitude in Latin America and the Caribbean.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search from January 1, 2000 to January 10, 2023 in Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/Medline, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed and Embase databases. We included studies that assessed the prevalence of hypertension in altitude populations (>1500 m.a.s.l.) and these were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. To assess the sources of heterogeneity, we performed subgroup and meta-regression analyses.
RESULTS
Thirty cross-sectional studies (117 406 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Studies used different cut-off points. The prevalence of hypertension in the studies that considered the cut-off point of ≥ 140/90 mmHg in the general population was 19.1%, ≥ 130/85 mmHg was 13.1%, and ≥ 130/80 mmHg was 43.4%. There was a tendency for the prevalence of hypertension to be higher in men. In meta-regression analyses, no association was found between altitude, mean age, year of publication, risk of bias and prevalence of hypertension.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of hypertension in the altitude population of Latin America and the Caribbean is lower than that reported in populations living at sea level and lower than other altitude populations such as Tibetans.
PROSPERO
CRD42021275229.
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