Blood Pressure Control: A Marathon or a Sprint?

Abstract

This symposium discussed several recent initiatives used around the world to improve the management of hypertensive patients and achieve better blood pressure (BP) control. The key objectives of the symposium were to review the current position with regards to BP control in Europe, to discuss the initiatives used in Italy, France, and Canada to improve hypertension management and their outcomes, and to assess how single-pill fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs have improved adherence. Some of the key barriers to BP control were discussed and measures to overcome these presented, so that further improvements in hypertension management can be achieved going forward. Prof Anthony Heagerty opened the meeting by discussing the key causes of suboptimal BP control and the results of the SPRINT study. Prof Massimo Volpe presented the initiative to achieve 70% BP control and assessed its success to date in Italy. Prof Jean-Jacques Mourad discussed the results of the PAssAGE 2014 study and French League Against Hypertension Survey (FLAHS) in 2015, following the initiative to achieve 70% BP control in France by the end of 2015. Prof Raj Padwal presented the Canadian hypertension Education Program (CHEP) and the improvements in the management of hypertensive patients in Canada. Finally, Dr Julian Segura bought the meeting to a close by discussing how fixed-dose combinations have improved adherence in clinical practice.