What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Arterial hypertension (n=1289). Intervention: Antihypertensive treatment. Primary outcome: Blood pressure control (BP < 160/95 mm Hg or < 140/90 mm Hg).

July 1, 1998Open Access

A Population-Based Survey of Drug Treatment Efficacy by the French National Committee for the Control of Arterial Hypertension

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Antihypertensive treatment in a French survey population achieved blood pressure 64 years.

Key Result

Antihypertensive treatment in a French survey population achieved blood pressure <160/95 mm Hg in 60% of patients aged 35-65 years and <160/90 mm Hg in 44% of patients >64 years.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=1,289)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

What is the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment in the French population as assessed by a public survey?

Population

7,107 individuals who had their blood pressure measured at sales exhibitions, including 1,289 treated hypertensive subjects fully aware of their treatment.

Intervention

Antihypertensive drug therapy (observational)

Outcome

Blood pressure control rates (BP < 160/95 mm Hg, < 140/90 mm Hg, or < 160/90 mm Hg depending on age)surrogate

A public survey approach at sales exhibitions was an inexpensive way to assess hypertension control and educate the public, revealing suboptimal blood pressure control rates in treated patients.

Abstract

To assess the adequacy of antihypertensive treatment in the French population, a survey was conducted from October 1990 to April 1991 in five French cities during sales exhibitions. A total of 7107 individuals visited the stand of the French National Committee to have their blood pressure (BP) measured. Among them, 1289 were treated hypertensive subjects fully aware of their treatment. The efficacy of antihypertensive treatment was assessed in this population. Among those hypertensive treated subjects 35 to 65 years old, 60% had a BP 64 years of age, 44% had a BP < 160/90 mm Hg. In 1992, these results were included in a publication by the World Hypertension League. Data obtained with this new and interesting approach were reviewed 4 years later. The approach is inexpensive (the equivalent of US 28, 000) and made it possible to directly inform thousands of people, normotensive and hypertensive, about arterial hypertension and antihypertensive drug therapy, as well as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This kind of approach may be worth a strict evaluation, to assess whether it is really useful in improving high blood pressure control in the population.