Background and aims Hypertension is considered the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is associated with high levels of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. The negative effects of hypertension and its complications are preventable if those at risk are appropriately treated and controlled. Continually monitoring the epidemiological trends of hypertension is essential to formulate and evaluate public health measures to limit its negative effects. The herein presented Elieth‐HIFARI study sought to estimate the prevalence of hypertension, as well as the prevalence of related awareness, treatment, and control in a small town in Central America. Methods A population survey to assess cardiovascular risk was conducted (n = 577, 55.3% women, mean age 42.4 years) in the municipality of San Rafael del Norte in northern Nicaragua, between November 2016 and March 2017, based on the STEPwise method by the World Health Organization and the recommendations by the World Hypertension League. Results The overall prevalence of hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control was 28.1%, 72.2%, 68.5%, and 36.4%, respectively. Men had a lower prevalence of all indicators (22.5%, 60.3%, 53.4%, and 24.1%, respectively) compared with women (32.6%, 78.8%, 76.9%, and 43.3%, respectively). The median systolic blood pressure was 118.5 mm Hg (20.5 interquartile range [IQR]) (men: 123.0 mm Hg vs women: 115.5 mm Hg, Mann‐Whitney U test P < .001), and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 78.0 mm Hg (13 IQR) (men: 77.0, women: 78.0). Conclusion Hypertension is highly prevalent in San Rafael del Norte, while control rates are low despite the relatively higher levels of awareness and treatment. Furthermore, women have much higher prevalence of hypertension than men, along with higher awareness, treatment, and control. However, the control rate for those treated for hypertension was low, irrespective of sex.

Serious industrial, economic, and tax-related transformations have left the archipelago of Puerto Rico with a vast number of vacant, abandoned, and idle properties resulting on a series of environmental, social, legal, and economic issues in several communities. Performing environmental assessments on these properties have proven to be a key factor to assist in the removal of these issues, allowing the possibility for redevelopment and revitalization of the impacted communities. Over the past years, the Autonomous Municipality of Caguas (AMC) along with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed many policy innovations and financial incentives to aid in environmental assessments, remediation, and redevelopment of these properties. Located in Central Puerto Rico, and with a population of 142,893 inhabitants, according to Puerto Rico: 2010 census, this municipality has experienced rapid population and urban growth during the last decade, making it difficult for the local government to provide adequate services to all its residents. In Puerto Rico approximately 41.5% of the families live below poverty level, and the unemployment rate is 11.9%. For the AMC, 37.3% of the families live below poverty level and the unemployment rate is 9.8%. In 2009, the AMC received $400,000 through two brownfields grants from the EPA to perform environmental assessments on brownfield properties, related to hazardous substances and petroleum derivate. Between the two phases of the Brownfields Program, the AMC identified over 40 potential brownfield properties, such as abandoned industries, retail shops, restaurants and commercial buildings, from which 14 were assessed using a metric and a special scoring methodology (using ARCADIS

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