Overall, 42% of hypertensive patients in Spanish hospital units achieved goal blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg), with significantly lower control rates in high-risk subgroups such as diabetics (13%).
Observational (n=4,049)
Yes
Blood pressure control remains suboptimal in hospital-based hypertension units, especially among high-risk patients, with significant clinical inertia observed in treatment optimization.
Goal blood pressure (BP) was defined by the Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-VI) and the World Health Organization-International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) as 1 g/d. Poorer BP control was observed among patients at high risk, with diabetes, renal disease, or obesity, than in lower-risk groups. BP control was lower for systolic than for diastolic BP. In >50% of uncontrolled patients, no measures were taken by doctors to optimize pharmacologic treatment, and approximately one-third of patients were still using drug monotherapy. Control of BP, particularly of systolic BP, is still far from optimal in hospital-based hypertension units. Patients at high risk, with diabetes or proteinuria, warrant focused attention. Moreover, a more aggressive behavior of doctors treating uncontrolled hypertension is needed.
Banegas et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Hypertension (n=4,049). Physician management of hypertension was evaluated on Achievement of goal blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg overall). Overall, 42% of hypertensive patients in Spanish hospital units achieved goal blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg), with significantly lower control rates in high-risk subgroups such as diabetics (13%).