Latin American guidelines on hypertension. Latin American Expert Group.

Hypertension is a highly prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in the world and particularly overwhelming in low and middle-income countries. Recent reports from the WHO and the World Bank highlight the importance of chronic diseases such as hypertension as an obstacle to the achievement of good health status. It must be added that for most low and middle-income countries, deficient strategies of primary healthcare are the major obstacles for blood pressure control.

Latin American consensus on diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension, responsible of a major burden of cardiovascular complications, are increasing their incidence in Latin America in similar proportions to the rest of the world. The metabolic syndrome, a strong predictor of both diabetes and hypertension deserves more attention from the primary care physicians. Evidence based and updated guidelines on detection, prevention and treatment of diabetes and hypertension, issued by local experts, are willing to inform and translate these recommendations to the clinical practice of physicians assisting these patients throughout Latin America.