O essencial do diagnóstico ao tratamento da hipertensão arterial / The essential from diagnosis to treatment of arterial hypertension

A doença hipertensiva é o principal fator de risco para a mortalidade cardiovascular no mundo. Para tentar melhorar esse cenário, podem-se vislumbrar três ações estratégicas: melhorar o acesso aos cuidados em saúde, aumentar a adesão ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo e quebrar os paradigmas da inércia terapêutica. A hipertensão arterial é doença cujo diagnóstico é rápido, de baixo custo e relativamente fácil. Entretanto, apenas uma em cada cinco pessoas hipertensas está com a pressão arterial controlada. Logo, se as metas pressóricas recomendadas não forem atingidas e mantidas, há maior risco de desfechos cardiovasculares ruins. Estratégias de educação em saúde podem acarretar em maior adesão ao tratamento. Para tanto, deve-se incentivar o esclarecimento da população sobre essa doença, fornecendo-lhe informações pertinentes. Além disso, o profissional médico deve estabelecer estratégias para atingir a meta pressórica, para seus pacientes, por meio do tratamento efetivo. As diretrizes médicas se propõem a oferecer as melhores evidências em diagnóstico e tratamento. No entanto, por vezes, podem ser um tanto confusas e até mesmo complexas para serem utilizadas rotineiramente. A fim de tornar mais simples e objetiva a busca de informações, baseadas em evidências científicas atuais, na conduta dos pacientes hipertensos, propõe-se um fluxograma para consulta rápida. Nele, a hipertensão arterial é conduzida desde o diagnóstico até o tratamento

Hypertensive disease is the main risk factor for cardiovascular mortality worldwide. To improve this scenario, three strategic actions can be envisaged: improving access to health care, increasing adherence to antihypertensive treatment, and breaking the paradigms of therapeutic inertia. Hypertension is a disease whose diagnosis is quick, inexpensive, and relatively easy. However, only one in five people with hypertension has controlled blood pressure. Therefore, if the recommended blood pressure goals are not met and maintained, there is an increased risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes. Health education strategies can lead to greater adherence to treatment. Therefore, the population should be informed about this disease, providing them with pertinent information. In addition, the medical professional must establish strategies to reach the blood pressure goal, for their patients, through effective treatment. Medical guidelines purport to provide the best evidence in diagnosis and treatment. However, sometimes they can be quite confusing and even complex to use routinely. To make the search for information, based on current scientific evidence, in the management of hypertensive patients simpler and more objective, a flowchart for quick consultation is proposed. In it, arterial hypertension is conducted from diagnosis to treatment

Estudio DISCOVER en la población argentina / Discover study in the argentine population

Introducción: la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) es una enfermedad metabólica de alta prevalencia que constituye un importante factor de riesgo cardiovascular, en la cual los pacientes no sólo se diagnostican tardíamente, sino que permanecen por tiempos prolongados con mal control de la glucemia y de los demás factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Se registra una significativa inercia terapéutica en la implementación de drogas antidiabéticas en la segunda línea de tratamiento. Objetivos: el objetivo principal del estudio DISCOVER fue proporcionar datos del mundo real para evaluar la terapéutica antidiabética y los resultados clínicos prospectivos en pacientes con DM2 que inician una terapia farmacológica de segunda línea para la reducción de la glucemia. El objetivo secundario fue informar los datos de referencia de Argentina comparados con pacientes del mundo global, incluyendo variables metabólicas, edad, antigüedad de la enfermedad y riesgo cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: DISCOVER es un estudio observacional, prospectivo, de tres años de duración, en el cual participaron pacientes de 37 países con DM2, con mal control glucémico, que requerían una terapia antidiabética de segunda línea. Argentina participó con 14 centros urbanos. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: pacientes con diagnóstico de DM2 mayores de 18 años que requerían segunda línea de tratamiento para control de la glucemia luego del tratamiento de primera línea oral, con una monoterapia, o terapia doble o triple administrada como combinación de dosis fija. Resultados: se presentan los datos correspondientes a la Argentina. Se enrolaron 299 pacientes con diagnóstico de DM2 (51,3% hombres) que estaban fuera del objetivo de control glucémico (el control glucémico se estableció de acuerdo al valor de HbA1c de <7% según los criterios de la Asociación Americana de Diabetes, ADA 2020). La edad media fue de 59 años±10 años. El valor medio de la HbA1c fue de 8,8%±1,9% con glucemia en ayunas promedio de 182,9 mg/dl±59,6 mg/dl. Se registró una media de índice de masa corporal (IMC) de 32,2kg/m2 ± 6,0kg/m2. Argentina tuvo un porcentaje alto de sujetos mayores de 25 años con IMC elevado (90%). Un importante porcentaje de los parámetros lipídicos estaba fuera de los objetivos de control para pacientes con diabetes. La guía ADA 2020 recomienda el uso de estatinas de moderada potencia con los siguientes valores de LDL colesterol (LDLc): <100 mg/dl para pacientes con diabetes sin enfermedad cardiovascular y de <70 mg/dl para pacientes con diabetes y enfermedad cardiovascular, uso de estatinas de alta potencia y valores de triglicéridos <150 mg/dl siguiendo los criterios de ADA 2020. Los valores medios de colesterol total fueron de 188 mg/dl± 44 mg/dl para LDLc 114,39 mg/dl±10 mg/dl y los triglicéridos con una media 180,1mg/dl±97,6mg/dl. En el seguimiento a dos años se verificó un descenso estadísticamente significativo de los niveles de glucemia y HbA1c, así como de los parámetros lipídicos, aunque no se lograron los objetivos de tratamiento recomendados, a pesar de lo cual sólo aproximadamente el 52% de los pacientes recibía tratamiento con estatinas. Las drogas antidiabéticas más utilizadas en la segunda línea fueron los inhibidores de DPP-4 y las sulfonilureas. Conclusiones: se reconoció un alto grado de inercia en cuanto a la progresión para establecer una segunda línea de tratamiento, a partir del nivel alto de HbA1c con que se inició el mismo. Este estudio puso de manifiesto la situación del control metabólico, factores de riesgo cardiovascular asociados y el tratamiento de la DM2 en el mundo real de nuestro país, a partir de lo cual deben tomarse las medidas necesarias con el objetivo de mejorar los parámetros presentados y evaluarlos con estudios similares al actual. Es importante continuar trabajando para evitar la progresión de la diabetes hacia las complicaciones crónicas en aquellos pacientes que ya desarrollaron la enfermedad.

Introduction: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent metabolic disease, which constitutes an important cardiovascular risk factor, in which patients are not only diagnosed late, but remain for prolonged times, with glycemic and other cardiovascular risk factors poorly controlled. There is a significant therapeutic inertia in the implementation of antidiabetic drugs in the second line of treatment. Objectives: the main objective of the DISCOVER study was to provide real-world data to assess antidiabetic therapy and prospective clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM who initiate a second line pharmacological therapy for blood glucose reduction. The secondary objective was to obtain data from Argentina on glycemic control, metabolic control, comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and the concomitant therapeutic approach compared to the global world. Materials and methods: DISCOVER is a prospective 3-year observational study in which patients from 37 countries with T2DM with poor glycemic control who required second line antidiabetic therapy were involved. Argentina participated with 14 urban centers. Inclusion criteria were: patients with a diagnosis of T2DM over 18 years of age who require a second line of treatment for glycemic control after oral first line treatment, with monotherapy, or double or triple therapy administered as a fixed dose combination. Results: Argentina data are presented. 299 patients with a diagnosis of T2DM, were enrolled (51.3% men) who were outside the objective of glycemic control (glycemic control was established according to the HbA1c value of <7% according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association, ADA 2020). Mean age was 59 years±10 years. The mean HbA1c value was 8.8%±1.9% with an average fasting glucose of 182.9 mg/dl ±59.6 mg/dl. An average body mass index (BMI) of 32.2kg/m2 ±6.0 kg/m2 was recorded. Argentina had a high percentage of subjects over 25 years with high BMI (90%). A high percentage of lipids parameters were outside the control objectives for diabetic patients. The ADA 2020 guidelines recommends the use of moderately potent statin with the following LDL colesterol (LDLc) values <100 mg/dl for patients without cardiovascular disease and LDLc <70 mg/dl for patients with cardiovascular disease and use of high potency statin and trygliceride values <150 mg/dl following the criteria ADA 2020 guidelines. The average total cholesterol values were 188 mg/dl±44 mg/dl, for LDLc 114.39 mg/dl±10 mg/dl. Triglycerides with a mean 180.1 mg/dl±97.6 mg/dl. A two year follow up showed a statistically significant decrease in blood glucose and HbA1c levels, as well as lipids parameters, although the recommended treatment goals were not achieved, in despite of which only 25% of patients received statin treatment. The most used antidiabetic drugs in the second line were sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors. Conclusions: a high degree of inertia was recognized in terms of progression to establish a second line of treatment, based on the high level of HbA1c with which it was initiated. This study showed the situation of metabolic control, associated cardiovascular risk factors and the treatment of T2DM in the real world of our country. Necessary measures must be taken in order to improve the parameters presented and they must be able to be evaluated with studies similar to the current one. It is important to continue working to prevent the progression of diabetes toward chronic complications in those patients who have already developed the disease.

Controle pressórico e inércia terapêutica no ambulatório escola da Universidade Iguaçu / Pressure control and therapeutic inertia in the outpatient school of the Iguaçu University

Introdução: Conhecer as taxas de controle da pressão do Ambulatório Escola da Universidade Iguaçu, as estratégias terapêuticas e a taxa de inércia terapêutica frente aos pacientes não controlados, são fundamentais para estabelecer estratégias de alcance de metas pressóricas. Objetivo: Determinar a taxa de pacientes na meta e fora da meta de pressão arterial, a estratégia terapêutica em uso e a taxa de inércia terapêutica frente aos pacientes não controlados. Metodologia: Estudo observacional, prospectivo e analítico através de análise dos prontuários e entrevista com pacientes consecutivos atendidos no ambulatório escola da Universidade Iguaçu, com >18 anos, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2019. Análise de dados demográficos, condições clínicas associadas e presença de outros fatores de risco. Resultados: 202 pacientes estudados na pesquisa, faixa etária de 18 a 85 anos, com 91,08% dos pacientes com hipertensão arterial (40 e 79 anos). Analisando as taxas de controle, 61,38 % encontram-se na meta de pressão arterial de acordo com o risco cardiovascular, segundo a Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, e 38,6%, dos pacientes não se encontram na meta. A adesão terapêutica elevada foi observada em 29,83% dos pacientes na meta vrs 26,92% dos pacientes fora da meta. A taxa de inercia terapêutica foi de 41,03% pacientes com conduta mantida. Conclusão: Dos pacientes atendidos, 38,61% estão fora da meta de pressão arterial, e a inercia terapêutica é um importante problema. Como a maioria dos pacientes hipertensos sem comorbidades são acompanhados nas unidades básicas de saúde por generalistas, a capacitação desses profissionais é de grande importância para um melhor controle da pressão arterial.

Introduction:Knowing the pressure control rates of the outpatient school at the Iguaçu University, therapeutic strategies and the rate of therapeutic inertia in the face of uncontrolled patients are essential to establish strategies to achieve pressure goals. Objective: Determine the rate of patients on and off the blood pressure target, the therapeutic strategy in use and the rate of therapeutic inertia compared to uncontrolled patients. Methodology:Observational, prospective and analytical study through analysis of medical records and interviews with consecutive patients over 18 years old seen at the outpatient school at Universidade Iguaçu, from August to December 2019. Analysis of demographic data, associated clinical conditions and the presence of others risk factors. Results:202 patients studied in the research, age range from 18 to 85 years, with 91.08% of patients with arterial hypertension (40 and 79 years). Analyzing the control rates, 61.38% are on the blood pressure target according to cardiovascular risk, according to the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, and 38.6%, of the patients are not on the target. High therapeutic adherence was observed in 29.83% of patients on target vs. 26.92% of patients off target. The therapeutic inertia rate was 41.3% of patients in the target. Conclusion: Of the patients seen, 38.61% are outside the blood pressure target, and therapeutic inertia is an important problem. As the majority of hypertensive patients without comorbidities are monitored in basic health units by general practitioners, the training of these professionals is of great importance for a better control of blood pressure

Discordance between medication adherence and blood pressure control in primary care clinics in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia: The problem of therapeutic inertia

Introduction: Poor adherence to anti-hypertensive agents may be a major contributor for suboptimal blood pressure control among patients with hypertension. This study was conducted to assess the adherence to antihypertensive agents using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) among primary care patients, and to determine whether the blood pressure control is associated with the level of adherence. Methodolgy: This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and August 2011. Adults with hypertension older or equal to aged 30 with or without diabetes were recruited from two public primary care clinics in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Medication adherence was assessed using MMAS-8. Results: Data from 231 patients were analysed, whereby 68% of them had good medication adherence but only 38.1% of the patients had their blood pressure under control. Statistical analysis failed to find correlation between adherence and blood pressure control. Twenty per cent of hypertensive subjects were on beta-blocker alone, and 37.1% of patients with either diabetes or proteinuria were not prescribed either angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). Above half the patients (51.5%) were on monotherapy. Conclusion: Discordance between adherence to antihypertensive agents and hypertension control is clearly shown in this study, and the likely explanation for the discordance is therapeutic inertia. Keywords: primary care; hypertension; therapeutic inertia; medication adherence