KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN GENERAL POPULATION: RESULTS OF A COMMUNITY PHARMACY SCREENING PROGRAM

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension is a cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factor. Prevention of hypertension mediated organ damage is a main health problem. Guidelines underlines the importance of screening and educational programs in general population and the role of non-medical sanitary subjects, particularly pharmacists. This study evaluated knowledge about hypertension in a population afferent to community pharmacies of Piedmont and Ligury. Design and method: A questionnaire about knowledge of hypertension has been collected from 2731 community pharmacy costumers, participating to an arterial hypertension screening program. It included three sections about prevalence of hypertension, hypertension-mediated organ damage and preventive lifestyle behaviour. Blood pressure was measured with an Omron HEM 1040-E device. Further information about home blood pressure levels, cardiovascular, metabolic and cerebrovascular comorbidity were collected. Results: 57,5% of subjects were female and mean age was 58,3 ± 15,9 ys. 47% subjects declared a hypertensive status, 41% normotensive one and 12% didn’t know their pressure status. Mean systolic blood pressure was 130 ± 18 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 79 ± 10 mmHg. 69% of hypertensive subjects was not controlled at pharmacy evaluation, on the base of guidelines office target values. 10% of subjects self-declared normotensive and 35% who didn’t know their blood pressure status had a blood pressure >= 140/90 mmHg. In the questionnaire only 15% of subjects knew hypertension prevalence; 23% had a poor knowledge about lifestyle prevention interventions and 36% have poor knowledge about hypertension mediated organ damage. The proportion of people with poor knowledge was particularly higher in people who didn’t know their pressure status (low level consciousness about lifestyle and consequences in 30% and 48% of subjects respectively). Subjects with a low global knowledge about hypertension had significantly higher blood pressure levels compared to those with a good consciousness. Conclusions: Many people have poor knowledge of hypertension as risk factor; this is the base of poor blood pressure control and non-adherence. Community pharmacies may represent an important resource for education and prevention among general population, including people not seeking medical care.