| Sub-title | |
| Author | Conrad Azzopardi |
| Abstract | Background: Optimal control of blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) reported from different centres is still low in spite of the different classes of anti-hypertensive medications now widely available. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the proportion of hypertensive patients attending the medical consultant clinic who attained a blood pressure <140/90 mmHg on anti-hypertensive medication. Methods: The blood pressure of 277 consecutive patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of hypertension attending for follow-up at the medical consultant clinic between January 1 and July 31, 2003, was recorded. Other parameters recorded were date of follow-up visit, age, sex, and class or classes of anti-hypertensive medication taken. Results: Systolic blood pressure was less than 140 mmHg in half the patients and diastolic blood pressure was less than 90 mmHg in 83 per cent. Optimal blood pressure control (<140/90 mmHg) was attained in 47 per cent of patients. The mean number of drug classes used was 1.78 (SD+/-0.86) and was not significantly different from the group with sub-optimal control. Conclusion: Control of high blood pressure in this cohort was better than that reported in a similar population in 1988 (47% versus 34%). Systolic blood pressure was more difficult to control than diastolic blood pressure. More than half the patients would probably need more than two different drug classes to achieve optimal BP control. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | blood pressure, control, hypertension |