Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood pressure (BP) control level in treated hypertensive patients in Latvia and to compare their characteristics according to the adequacy of BP control. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Family physicians collected information on demographic and clinical characteristics, and current antihypertensive treatment of 455 18-80-year-old patients with essential arterial hypertension treated for 1 or more years. Target BP was defined as values of <140/90 mm Hg for patients with low or moderate cardiovascular risk and <135/85-125/75 mm Hg for patients with high or very high risk. BP was measured in the office setting after a 5-minute rest in a sitting position using a calibrated aneroid sphygmomanometer. RESULTS. Nearly half of patients (46.2%) attained their target BP. The proportion of patients with effective BP control was higher in the group of low and moderate added cardiovascular risk than in the high and very high added cardiovascular risk group (61.7% vs. 34.4%, P<0.0001). The majority of patients were given two-drug (26.2%) or three-drug (31.6%) combined antihypertensive therapy. Current pharmacological treatment was similar in the patients who attained target BP and in those who did not. Overall, physicians did not modify antihypertensive treatment in 37.9% of patients; such a recommendation was more common among patients with controlled BP. Very few patients (7.4%) who did not attain target BP did not receive recommendations to modify antihypertensive treatment. CONCLUSIONS. The rate of effective BP control was less than 50% and was even worse (34.4%) in patients with high or very high added cardiovascular risk in the present sample of treated hypertensive patients.
Highlights
IntroductionUsing the currently recommended criteria for the diagnosis of arterial hypertension (AH) (mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] of ≥140 mm Hg or mean diastolic blood pressure [DBP] of ≥90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication), the overall prevalence of hypertension in adults in the United States in 1999–2000 was 27% for men and 30% for women [1]
Using the currently recommended criteria for the diagnosis of arterial hypertension (AH), the overall prevalence of hypertension in adults in the United States in 1999–2000 was 27% for men and 30% for women [1]
The proportion of patients with effective blood pressure (BP) control was higher in the group of low and moderate added cardiovascular risk than in the high and very high added cardiovascular risk group (61.7% vs. 34.4%, P
Summary
Using the currently recommended criteria for the diagnosis of arterial hypertension (AH) (mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] of ≥140 mm Hg or mean diastolic blood pressure [DBP] of ≥90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication), the overall prevalence of hypertension in adults in the United States in 1999–2000 was 27% for men and 30% for women [1]. National surveys indicate that the prevalence of hypertension in many countries is as high or higher as identified in the United States. Despite advances in understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertension, a wide range of effective antihypertensive drugs, and evidence-based national and international guidelines for the management of hypertension, BP control is still far from optimal in many countries. The results of epidemiologic studies revealed that even in the countries with advanced
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