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Controlled diastolic blood pressure, previous stroke and associated risk factors are obstacles to improving systolic blood pressure

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 893–896 (2007)Cite this article

The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the failure of cardiologists to change to a different antihypertensive class or to add a new antihypertensive class in high coronary risk patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Among these patients, a new antihypertensive class was less likely to be added in the presence of controlled diastolic blood pressure (BP), previous stroke or treated dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus.

In secondary prevention, the difficulty in controlling hypertension has been demonstrated.1 Cross-sectional surveys conducted in the Europe show that about 30% of patients admitted for unstable angina or myocardial infarction are discharged from the hospital with uncontrolled hypertension2 and that about 50% of such patients have high BP 6 months after hospitalization.3 Determining the factors underlying these disappointing results is an important issue. We have previously found that a large proportion of uncontrolled hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk were on monotherapy.1 The aim of this study was to characterize factors related to absence of change to a different antihypertensive class or add a new antihypertensive class in treated, uncontrolled hypertensives seen by cardiologists in the outpatient setting.

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Acknowledgements

The ELIAGE study, the ELICOEUR study and the analysis of these data were financially supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Médecine Interne et d'hypertension artérielle, Haute Garonne, France

    J Amar

  2. INSERM 558, Haute Garonne, France

    J Amar & J P Cambou

  3. Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Rueil Malmaison, France

    S Quentzel & E Amelineau

  4. Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

    N Danchin

Authors
  1. J Amar
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  2. J P Cambou
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  3. S Quentzel
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  4. E Amelineau
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  5. N Danchin
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Correspondence to J Amar.

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Amar, J., Cambou, J., Quentzel, S. et al. Controlled diastolic blood pressure, previous stroke and associated risk factors are obstacles to improving systolic blood pressure. J Hum Hypertens 21, 893–896 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002243

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