Trends in the Incidence and Mortality of Stroke in Matão, Brazil: The Matão Preventing Stroke (MAPS) Study.

Background: Stroke population-based studies in the same setting comparing time trends of rates are a gold standard method to determine the primary prevention status of stroke. Twelve years ago, we measured the stroke incidence and mortality in Matão city, Southeast of Brazil.

Objective: This second Matão stroke registry study aimed to determine the time trends in the incidence, mortality, case fatality, and functional status of patients with stroke.

Matão Controlling Hypertension (MatCH) project: Rationale and design.

Background: Hypertension is the main risk factor for most cardiovascular diseases. A coordinated and organized system from the Brazilian Ministry of Healthy involving Family Health Strategy (FHS), a program for the prevention of chronic disease, and the Popular Pharmacy Program (PPP), which subsidizes medications for the population, could allow an earlier identification and better blood pressure (BP) control. Matão Controlling Hypertension (MatCH) is a community-based population project that aims to apply an organized, integrated and coordinated program in the city of Matão, Brazil, involving FHS and PPP in order to actively search, treat and follow-up hypertensive subjects.