Profile and nutritional status in hypertensive patients treated in an outpatient clinic of nutrition in Southern Brazil

Introduction and objective: Changes in life style and multidisciplinary monitoring are necessary for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and the study aimed to evaluate the profile and the nutritional status of hypertensive patients treated in outpatient nutrition in southern Rio Grande do Sul, between 2007 and 2014. Materials and methods: Analysis of data from medical records of hypertensive patients aged < 18 years, for the first and last query in the period, to evaluate the percentage of variation in weight and the profile of the patients. Results: The majority of hypertensive patients evaluated were female (82.8%), is above the ideal weight (93%), is sedentary (57.8%) and lost weight (78.9%) during the treatment period evaluated. Discussion: Studies show that weight loss reduces signs and symptoms of hypertension and improves the quality of life in general and this weight reduction is very important, since obesity is a risk factor for the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. Conclusion: The patients showed partial compliance with nutritional treatment, in addition to a high prevalence of physical inactivity and obesity. Because of the importance of healthy eating and regular physical exercises, it is necessary a follow-up of these patients in order to reduce the complications of this disease.