Clinical characteristics, treatment, and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension seen by primary care physicians in Spain: the IBERICAN study.

Objectives: To determine the clinical profile, according to the history of hypertension, the risk of developing hypertension, current antihypertensive treatment and BP control rates in patients with hypertension from the IBERICAN cohort. Methods: IBERICAN is an ongoing prospective cohort study, whose primary objective is to determine the frequency, incidence, and distribution of CVRF in the adult Spanish population seen in primary care settings. This analysis shows the baseline clinical characteristics of patients with hypertension. Adequate BP control was defined as BP <140/90 mmHg according to 2013 ESH/ESC guidelines. Results: A total of 8,066 patients were consecutively included, of whom 3,860 (48.0%) had hypertension. These patients were older (65.8 ± 10.9 vs. 51.6 ± 14.7 years; p < 0.001), had more cardiovascular risk factors, target organ damage and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in comparison with those without hypertension. The risk of hypertension increased with the presence of associated CV risk factors and comorbidities, particularly diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, and decreased with the intensity of physical activity. Regarding antihypertensive treatments, 6.1% of patients did not take any medication, 38.8% were taking one antihypertensive drug, 35.5% two drugs, and 19.6% three or more antihypertensive drugs. Overall, 58.3% achieved BP goals <140/90 mmHg. A greater probability of BP control was observed with increasing age of patients and the greater number of antihypertensive drugs. Blood pressure control was lower in hypertensive patients with diabetes, obesity, the metabolic syndrome, increased urinary albumin excretion, higher pulse pressure, and lack of antihypertensive treatment. Conclusions: About half of patients attended in primary care settings have hypertension in Spain. Patients with hypertension have a worse CV clinical profile than non-hypertensive patients, with greater association of CVRF and CVD. Around four out of ten patients do not achieve the recommended BP goals, and higher use of combination therapies is associated with a better BP control.

Prevalence of Chronic Heart Failure, Associated Factors, and Therapeutic Management in Primary Care Patients in Spain, IBERICAN Study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients assisted in primary care is not well known. We investigated the prevalence of CHF, its associated factors, and its therapeutic management. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in primary care (PC) in baseline patients of the IBERICAN study (Identification of the Spanish Population at Cardiovascular and Renal Risk). CHF was defined as the presence of this condition in the medical history, classifying patients according to the type of ventricular dysfunction in CHF with preserved ejection fraction (pEF), or CHF with reduced ejection fraction (rEF). Clinical characteristics, relationship between CHF and main cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), and drug treatments used according to ejection fraction (EF) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 8066 patients were included (54.5% women), average age (SD) was 57.9 (14.8) years, of which 3.1% (95% CI: 2.3-3.7) presented CHF, without differences between men and women. CHF with pEF (61.8%; 95% CI: 55.5-67.6) was more frequent in women, and CHF with rEF (38.1%; 95% CI: 33.2-45.5) (p = 0.028) was similar in both genders (65.9%; 95% CI: 57.1-73.4 vs. 57.3%; 95% CI: 47.7-65.8) (p = 0.188). A progressive increase of the prevalence with age (15.2% in ≥80 years) and with the aggregation of CVRF was observed. The most prescribed treatments were beta-blockers (54.7%) followed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (42.8%) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (41.3%), without differences between pEF and rEF. The variables that are most associated with the probability of suffering CHF were a personal history of left ventricular hypertrophy (OR: 5.968; p < 0.001), of atrial fibrillation (OR: 3.494; p < 0.001), and of peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.029; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Three in every 100 patients included in the IBERICAN study presented CHF, of which two thirds had pEF. The condition increased exponentially with age and aggregation of CVRF. We did not find any differences in drug treatment according to the type of ventricular dysfunction. The treatment of HF with rEF has much room for improvement.

Impact of variations in blood pressure with orthostatism on mortality: the HOMO study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic hypertension (OHT) on all-cause mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of, 1176 adults from the community over 18 years of age were included in this ambispective study. The mean follow-up was 9.4 years. OH and OHT were defined as a decrease or an increase, respectively, in systolic blood pressure (BP) of at least 20 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of at least 10 mmHg from sitting to standing position at 1 and/or 3 min after standing. The impact of systolic or diastolic OH and systolic or diastolic OHT at 1 and 3 min after standing was also analyzed separately. RESULTS: In total, 135 individuals died during the follow-up. Neither OH [hazard ratio (HR) 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72-2.10] nor OHT (HR 0.90; 95% CI: 0.59-1.38) was associated with all-cause mortality in the adjusted models. In contrast, systolic OHT at 3 min (HR 2.31; 95% CI: 1.14-4.68) was independently associated with global mortality. CONCLUSION: Systolic OHT at 3 min is associated with all-cause mortality. The determination of this parameter could add valuable prognostic information during the routine examination of patients.

Blood pressure control and management of very elderly patients with hypertension in primary care settings in Spain.

This study aimed to determine the clinical profile, blood pressure (BP) control rates, therapeutic management and physicians' therapeutic behavior regarding very elderly hypertensive patients. A total of 1540 hypertensive patients 80 years old on antihypertensive therapy and receiving care in primary care settings in Spain were included in this cross-sectional study. The mean patient age was 83.4±3.1 years, 61.9% of patients were women and 49.3% of patients had cardiovascular disease. Of the patients, 27.7% were on monotherapy and 72.3% were on combined therapy (47.4% on two antihypertensive agents and 24.9% on three or more antihypertensive agents). A total of 40.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 38.4-43.3%) of patients achieved BP goals (<140/90 mm Hg; <130/80 in patients with diabetes, chronic renal disease or cardiovascular disease). Patients with uncontrolled BP were more likely to have metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, a history of cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, renal disease and stroke and were more frequently smokers. Physicians modified the antihypertensive regimens for 27.4% (95% CI: 23.9-30.8%) of the patients with uncontrolled BP, and the addition of another antihypertensive agent was the most frequent modification. With regard to the physicians' perception of patients' BP control, the BPs of 44.1% of the patients with uncontrolled BP were considered well controlled by the physicians.

Control de la presión arterial en la población hipertensa española asistida en Atención Primaria. Estudio PRESCAP 2010 / Blood pressure control in hypertensive Spanish population attended in Primary Care setting. The PRESCAP 2010 study

Fundamento y objetivo: Es necesario disponer de información actualizada sobre el control de la hipertensión arterial en condiciones reales de práctica clínica. Este estudio pretende conocer el grado de control de la presión arterial (PA) en hipertensos asistidos en Atención Primaria (AP). Pacientes y método: Estudio transversal realizado en hipertensos españoles ≥18 años asistidos en AP. La PA se midió estandarizadamente 2 veces en consulta matutina o vespertina, considerándose bien controlada cuando el promedio era <140/90mmHg en general y <130/80mmHg en pacientes con diabetes, insuficiencia renal o enfermedad cardiovascular; adicionalmente se analizó el buen control en toda la población con valores tensionales <140/90mmHg. Resultados: Se incluyeron 12.961 hipertensos (52,0% mujeres) con una edad media (DE) de 66,3 (11,4) años. El 46,3% (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%] 45,4-47,1) presentó buen control de PA sistólica y diastólica; con valores <140/90mmHg el buen control fue del 61,1% (IC 95% 60,2-61,9). El 63,6% recibía terapia combinada (44,1% 2 fármacos, 19,5% 3 o más). El porcentaje de control fue mayor (p<0,001) por las tardes (50,4%) que por las mañanas (45,1%), y en pacientes que habían tomado el tratamiento antihipertensivo el día de la visita (47,9%) frente a los que no lo habían tomado (30,5%). No tomar la medicación el día de la visita, el consumo elevado de alcohol y el antecedente de dislipidemia fueron los factores más asociados al mal control. Conclusiones: El estudio PRESCAP 2010 indica que casi 5 de cada 10 hipertensos tienen bien controlada la PA. Existen diferencias importantes según el horario de consulta y la toma previa de antihipertensivos. El control ha mejorado respecto al PRESCAP 2006 (AU)

Background and objective: This study was aimed at determining the degree of blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients attended in primary care (PC) settings. Patients and method: Cross-sectional, multicenter study. Hypertensive patients ≥18 years under antihypertensive treatment attended in Spanish PC settings were included. BP control was regarded as optimum when BP values were <140/90mmHg in general population and <130/80mmHg in patients with diabetes, chronic renal disease or cardiovascular disease. BP control was also calculated for all patients when it was <140/90mmHg. Results: A total of 12,961 hypertensive patients (52.0% women) with a mean age of 66.3 (±11.4) years were included. A percentage of 46.3 (95% CI: 45.4-47.1) presented good systolic BP and diastolic BP control; 61.1% (IC 95%: 60.2-61.9) of patients presented good BP control <140/90. A percentage of 63.6% was treated with combination therapy (44.1% with 2 drugs, 19.5% with 3 or more). BP control was significantly higher in evening measurements (50.4%) than in morning measurements (45.1%), and in patients who had taken the treatment before the visit (47.9%) compared with those who had not (30.5%). Factors such as not taking the medication before the visit, heavy alcohol consumption and dyslipemia were the risk factors mostly associated with a poor BP control (P<0.001). Conclusions: Five out of 10 hypertensive patients treated in PC settings have an optimal BP control. The degree of control of arterial hypertension has improved with respect to the PRESCAP 2006 study (AU)

[Blood pressure control in hypertensive Spanish population attended in primary care setting. The PRESCAP 2010 study]. / Control de la presión arterial en la población hipertensa española asistida en atención primaria. Estudio PRESCAP 2010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at determining the degree of blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients attended in primary care (PC) settings. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional, multicenter study. Hypertensive patients ≥18 years under antihypertensive treatment attended in Spanish PC settings were included. BP control was regarded as optimum when BP values were <140/90mmHg in general population and <130/80mmHg in patients with diabetes, chronic renal disease or cardiovascular disease. BP control was also calculated for all patients when it was <140/90mmHg. RESULTS: A total of 12,961 hypertensive patients (52.0% women) with a mean age of 66.3 (±11.4) years were included. A percentage of 46.3 (95% CI: 45.4-47.1) presented good systolic BP and diastolic BP control; 61.1% (IC 95%: 60.2-61.9) of patients presented good BP control<140/90. A percentage of 63.6% was treated with combination therapy (44.1% with 2 drugs, 19.5% with 3 or more). BP control was significantly higher in evening measurements (50.4%) than in morning measurements (45.1%), and in patients who had taken the treatment before the visit (47.9%) compared with those who had not (30.5%). Factors such as not taking the medication before the visit, heavy alcohol consumption and dyslipemia were the risk factors mostly associated with a poor BP control (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Five out of 10 hypertensive patients treated in PC settings have an optimal BP control. The degree of control of arterial hypertension has improved with respect to the PRESCAP 2006 study.

Cardiovascular risk and blood pressure control in a Spanish hypertensive population attended in a Primary Care setting. Data from the PRESCAP 2006 study.

AIMS: To analyse the cardiovascular risk of a broad sample of hypertensive patients and to examine whether there are differences in blood pressure control and associated factors according to the different cardiovascular risk categories. MAJOR FINDINGS: A total of 10,520 patients > or = 18 years old were included (mean age 64.6+/-11.3 years; 53.7% women). In this cohort, 3.3% were average risk, 22.6% low added risk, 22.2% moderate added risk, 33.5% high added risk and 18.4% very high added risk. Blood pressure was controlled in 41.4% (95% CI 40.5-42.4) of the total population, in 91.7% of patients with low added risk, in 19.4% with moderate added risk, in 27.4% with high added risk and in 6.8% with very high added risk. Diabetes was the factor most strongly associated with poor blood pressure control in patients with high to very high added risk (OR=7.2; p<0.0001). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION: More than half of the hypertensive patients treated in primary health care have a high or very high added cardiovascular risk. In these patients, blood pressure control is inadequate and diabetes is associated with a sevenfold increase in the likelihood of poor blood pressure control.