Improvement of Blood Pressure Control in Renal Transplant Recipients-Retrospective Longitudinal Study

Hypertension is a very common complication in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). It has been identified as a potent cardiovascular risk factor associated with impaired patient and graft survival.

A longitudinal retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate adherence to recommended blood pressure (BP) targets and to estimate the tendency in the management of hypertension from 2001 to 2015. A total of 96 RTRs (55 male, 41 female; overall mean age (2001), 41.66 ± 11.08 years; mean serum creatinine level, 1.45 ± 0.3 mg/dL; 41.2 ± 34.9 months after kidney transplantation) with diagnoses of hypertension and monitored continuously in the unit from 2001 to 2015 were included in the study.

The average diastolic BP decreased (P < .01) and the average systolic BP did not change in this period. The target values of BP (ie, <140/90 mm Hg) were accomplished by 45.8% (2001) and 53.1% (2015) of patients. When the target BP was corrected by age (<150/90 mm Hg for people >65 years old) the adherence improved to 57.29% in 2015. The average number of antihypertensive agents used per patient increased significantly (P < .001): 2.03 ± 1.0 (2001) versus 2.69 ± 1.26 (2015). The most commonly used antihypertensive agents were beta-blockers: 69% and 74% in 2001 and 2015, respectively. There was a significant increase in the percentage of RTRs treated with the use of alpha-blockers (P < .01), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (P < .001), and angiotensin II receptor blockers (P < .05).

The study showed modest improvement of the hypertension control rate from 2001 to 2015 in RTRs. Greater efforts are needed to implement the guidelines, which would further improve patient and graft outcomes.