Factors associated with therapeutic goal attainment in patients with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, with approximately 30 million patients in the United States having these concomitant conditions. Further, the presence of high body mass index (BMI) has a negative effect on the achievement of blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.

This study evaluates the demographic, diagnostic, and medication-related factors associated with BP and LDL-C goal attainment in patients with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia stratified by BMI.

This retrospective study utilized the GE Centricity Electronic Medical Records database (2004-2011) of a primary care physician group. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia were included. The attainment of BP and LDL-C targets were assessed based on Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) and National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) guidelines. Patients were classified into 3 cohorts based on their BMI: normal weight (≤ 24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the predictors of goal attainment.

A total of 9086 patients with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia were identified, of which 7723, 6724, and 5824 patients did not attain BP, LDL-C, and dual BP and LDL-C goals, respectively. Age was a significant predictor of BP and LDL-C goal attainment in those who were of normal weight or overweight, and obese women had a decreased likelihood of achieving these goals (P < 0.05). Failure to attain BP and LDL-C goals was more likely in patients with diabetes across all BMI groups (P < 0.001). Further, patients with stage 1 hypertension and higher baseline total cholesterol levels were less successful in attaining BP and LDL-C goals, respectively (P < 0.001).

These variations in therapeutic goal attainment in patients with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidemia across different BMI groups suggest that future research is needed to determine the underlying reasons for these disparities.