1.3 Blood Pressure The blood pressure (BP) measurement technique will be made according VI Brazilian Guidelines to Hypertension Treatment: 1) measurements were taken with a recently calibrated aneroid sphygmomanometer known to be accurate; 2) the cuff was placed so that the lower edge was 3 cm above the elbow crease and the bladder was centered over the brachial artery; 3) a standard bladder was used (12-13 cm long and 35 cm wide), but a larger and a smaller bladder were available for thicker and thinner arms, respectively; 4) the arm was bare and supported with the blood pressure cuff positioned at heart level; 5) the mean of three BP measurements taken in the sitting position after 5 to 10 minutes of rest was used; 6) phase I and V (disappearance) Korotkoff sounds were used to identify systolic and diastolic BP, respectively; 7) the pressure was increased rapidly to 30 mmHg above the level at which the radial pulse was extinguished; 8) a cuff deflation rate of 2 mmHg per beat was used; 9) a minimum of 1-minute intervals were recommended between readings to avoid venous congestion; 10) BP was measured in both arms to detect possible differences due to peripheral vascular disease; in this case, the higher value was taken as the reference one. Hypertension is defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or current use of anti-hypertensive drugs.