Impact of antihypertensive medication regimens on blood pressure control in individuals with established coronary heart disease

Abstract

Abstract Background and purpose Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) development and progression, with pharmacological control of blood pressure reducing the risk of CHD events and death [1]. Treatment and control of blood pressure in CHD is suboptimal, with many patients failing to achieve guideline-directed targets [1,2]. This study aims to assess the relationship between antihypertensive medication regimens and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension and established coronary heart disease. Methods The iASPIRE study recently evaluated secondary prevention in an Irish cohort with coronary heart disease [2]. Based on a method used in a similar study [3], we calculated the average percentage daily dose of each prescribed antihypertensive agent. We then assessed the relationship between dose and number of antihypertensive agents with blood pressure control. Results 540 (75.5%) of iASPIRE participants had an underlying diagnosis of hypertension, and at the study examination, 56% of these had a blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, while 83% had a blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg. The median number of antihypertensive agents prescribed was 2 (IQR 1–2), with 88% of those with hypertension on at least one blood pressure medication. In participants with hypertension on treatment, the median percentage daily medication dose was 29% (IQR 14–50). After adjustment for age and sex, the addition of further antihypertensive medications increased the odds of achieving a blood pressure target of <130/80 mmHg (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.07–1.69, p=0.012). The average percentage daily dose of each antihypertensive agent was lower in both participants with a medication-controlled blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg and <140/90 mmHg compared to those without blood pressure control (30% versus 37% p=0.006 and 33% versus 38% p=0.028 respectively). Conclusion Many patients with hypertension and coronary heart disease currently fail to achieve blood pressure control. This analysis found that an increasing number of antihypertensive medications but not increasing dose was associated with better blood pressure control. Combination therapy is superior to sequential monotherapy in the treatment of hypertension [1], and an approach that emphasises the initiation of several antihypertensive agents would likely lead to better blood pressure control in individuals with coronary heart disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.