Time trend analysis of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in Italy. novel insights from recent national surveys in the general population

Systematic and periodic assessments of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control are available in various countries around the world. These reports have been used not only for epidemiological purposes, but mostly for planning educational and therapeutic interventions aimed at ameliorating the BP control rates and reducing the incidence of hypertension-related cardiovascular diseases at various levels or settings. Over the last few years, such analyses were made available also in Italy, thus confirming a high prevalence of hypertension in the general adult population, with relatively low rates of awareness and control. Among these surveys, the analysis provided by the National Institute of Health represents the first and most inclusive assessment of hypertension prevalence and control in the general population in our Country