Validation of self reported diagnosis of hypertension in a cohort of university graduates in Spain.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Alvaro Alonso, Emory University; Juan José Beunza, University of Navarra; Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez, University of Jaén; Miguel Angel Martínez-González, University of Navarra
• Language: English
• Date: 2005
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2005 Alonso et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-94
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Public Health
• ISSN: 1471-2458
• Volume: 5
• Start Page: 94
• End Page: 94
• Grant/Funding Information: The authors thank the collaboration of the participants in the SUN Study. The SUN Study has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Health (Grants PI030678, PI040233 and G03/140), the Navarra Regional Government (PI41/2005) and the University of Navarra.; Dr. Alonso was supported partially by a Fulbright fellowship and a MMA Foundation grant.
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Spain; Educational Status; Middle Aged; Humans; Risk Factors; Cohort Studies; Female; Hypertension; Prevalence; Diet, Mediterranean; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; Aged; Universities; Blood Pressure Determination; Self Care
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The search for risk factors of hypertension requires the study of large populations. Sometimes, the only feasible way of studying these populations is to rely on self-reported data of the outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate validity of self-reported diagnosis of hypertension in a cohort of university graduates in Spain. METHODS: The Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Study is a cohort of more than 15,000 university graduates in Spain. We selected a random sample of 79 cohort participants who reported a diagnosis of hypertension and 48 participants who did not report such diagnosis (76% participation proportion). Then, we compared information on the self-reported diagnosis of hypertension and hypertension status as assessed through two personal blood pressure measurements and an interview. Additionally, we compared self-reported and measured blood pressure levels with intraclass correlation coefficients and the survival-agreement plot. RESULTS: From those 79 reporting a diagnosis of hypertension, 65 (82.3%, 95% CI 72.8-92.8) were confirmed through conventional measurement of blood pressure and the interview. From those 48 that did not report a diagnosis of hypertension, 41 (85.4%, 95% CI 72.4-89.1) were confirmed as non hypertensives. Results were similar among men and women, but were worse for overweight and obese individuals, and for those with a family history of hypertension. The agreement between self-reported and measured blood pressure levels (as a continuous variable), as estimated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, was 0.35 for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Self-reported hypertension among highly educated participants in a cohort study is a relatively valid tool to assess the hypertensive status of participants. However, the investigators should be cautious when using self-reported blood pressure values.