Correspondence:

hypertension and associated factors: Brazil, 2006 OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of self-reported systemic arterial hypertension and associated factors. METHODS: Study based on data provided by the system of Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL – Telephone-based surveillance of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases), collected in 2006 in Brazil’s capitals and Federal District. The frequency of systemic arterial hypertension was estimated in 54,369 adults, stratifi ed by sex, geographic region, socio-demographic and behavioral variables and self-reported morbidities. Crude odds ratios of hypertension were calculated, as well as odds ratios adjusted for the study’s variables. RESULTS: The frequency of self-reported hypertension was 21.6%. It was higher among women (24.4 % versus 18.4%), lower in the North and Central