[Hypertension management in patients with stable coronary disease]

Abstract

Aims: To assess hypertension control in patients with stable coronary disease in France.

Design: A cross sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of 794 cardiologists.

Participants: The first 6 patients with coronary disease received at practitioner's office were included.

Main outcome measures: Cardiovascular risk factors, antihypertensive drugs, cardiovascular history were reported. BP was measured. Patients considered as hypertensive by his cardiologist and receiving antihypertensive drugs were considered as hypertensive. Controlled hypertension was defined as a blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg. Among the uncontrolled hypertensives we distinguished patients with isolated systolic hypertension: diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg and systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg.

Results: All variables were available in 6,349 patients who form the basis of this report. 3,161 patients were hypertensive. Of them, 1,846 (58.4%) were uncontrolled hypertensives, whom 1,280 (69.3%) were uncontrolled on the basis of systolic blood pressure alone.

Conclusion: This study conducted in a representative sample of French cardiologists indicates that there is a considerable potential to further reduce cardiovascular morbidity in patients in secondary prevention.