Related Experiment Videos
Blood pressure levels in treated hypertensive patients in general practice in Norway
A Westheim1, T Klemetsrud, S Tretli
1Department of Cardiology, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Blood pressure control is insufficient in most Norwegian patients with essential hypertension, with only 30.7% of men and 22.3% of women achieving target levels. Improved hypertension management in general practice is urgently needed.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- General Practice
- Public Health
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a prevalent condition requiring ongoing management.
- Effective blood pressure control is crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk.
- Current treatment strategies in general practice settings warrant evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess blood pressure (BP) control in a large cohort of patients with essential hypertension undergoing treatment in Norwegian general practice.
- To identify factors influencing BP control, including demographics and treatment regimens.
- To highlight the need for improved hypertension management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 1816 patients in Norwegian general practice.
- Data collected via physician-completed optical readable questionnaires.
- Information included demographics, anthropometrics, smoking habits, and antihypertensive medication.
Main Results:
- Only 22.3% of women and 30.7% of men achieved BP < or = 140/90 mmHg.
- Using a less stringent criterion (BP < 160/95 mmHg), 50% of patients achieved control.
- Blood pressure control was poorer in women and patients over 60; combination therapy showed no advantage over monotherapy.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of hypertensive patients in Norwegian general practice have inadequate blood pressure control.
- Current treatment protocols may not be sufficiently effective for achieving target BP levels.
- Enhanced strategies for hypertension management in primary care are essential to improve patient outcomes.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to examine the blood pressure (BP) levels in patients treated for essential hypertension in 1816 patients in general practice in Norway. The study was based on an optical readable questionnaire filled out by the physician including information about systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BP, gender, age, body weight, smoking habits and all pharmaceutical treatment given. Sixty-four per cent of the patients were treated with one antihypertensive drug. Only 22.3% of the women and 30.7% of the men (p < 0.05) had BP < or = 140/90 mmHg. When BP < 160/95 was used as criterion for BP control, the fraction of patients was 50%. The fraction of patients with DBP < or = 80 mmHg was 26% in the whole group of patients. DBP < or = 90 mmHg was achieved in 74% and SBP < or = 140 mmHg in 30% of the patients. The BP control was less in women and in patients above 60 years of age. Patients on combination therapy were no better controlled than those on monotherapy. Based on our results, the proportion of hypertensive patients on drug treatment with insufficient BP control is too high. Efforts should be made to improve the medical treatment of hypertension in general practice in Norway.