PP.15.09

Abstract

Objective: To assess the rates of controlled hypertension as per the 2009 Reappraisal of the 2007 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) guidelines. Design and method: International, non-interventional, cross-sectional survey conducted across five non-European countries (Algeria, Pakistan, Ukraine, Egypt and Venezuela) from November 2012 to September 2013. Physicians recruited consecutive adult patients previously diagnosed with hypertension and those who were under antihypertensive drug treatment managed by the physician. Written consent was obtained from the participating patient. The rates of controlled hypertension according to physician perception, type of therapy and risk factors and the criteria linked to poor blood pressure (BP) control were evaluated. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Of 2185 hypertensive adults surveyed, 40.1% patients had controlled hypertension according to guidelines (i.e. in patients aged <80 years: BP less or equal to139/85 mmHg; in patients aged more than 80 years: systolic BP<150 mmHg; in patients with renal impairment: BP<130/80 mmHg). A marked divergence in the rates of controlled hypertension as assessed by physicians and guidelines was observed (Figure). Presence of high/very high risks (taking into account the number of BP measurements, risk factors and associated diseases) was linked to poor BP control. High salt intake (29%; odds ratio [OR]:9.94), treatment non-adherence (27%; OR:7.32), lack of understanding the treatment's importance (25%; OR:4.95), comorbidity (13%) and depression (9%; OR:10.50) were important reasons for not achieving hypertension control.Conclusions: Addition of another drug was the most frequent medication change prescribed. Poor rates of BP control warrant interventions to improve implementation of guidelines using strategies such as treatment intensification and use of fixed dose combinations.