Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Austria: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HTN) control is achieved in 30-50% of all diagnosed and treated patients in Europe today. There is no large, recent, and properly conducted Austrian study available, with the last representative data being obtained in the 1990s. We sought to close this gap of evidence in Europe by providing information on HTN control in predominantly adherent patients.

Methods and results: In October 2015, we enrolled 4303 patients with HTN who approached one of 158 participating pharmacies with a prescription filled for antihypertensive medication. The recruitment was completed within 10 days. Patient's mean age was 68 ± 12 years, 53% were women. The mean SBP/DBP was 144 ± 20/84 ± 12 mmHg. On average, patients received 2.2 ± 1.1 different antihypertensive substances, 45% received a fixed-dose combination drug. A total of 93% were aware of their disease, 90% claimed to have taken their medication prior to the survey, and 41% had their blood pressure (BP) controlled at a threshold of 140/90 mmHg. Predictors of HTN control were lower age [per decade increase, odds ratio (OR) 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85; 0.96, P < 0.01], female sex (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07;1.41), the intake of medication on the day of the conduct of the survey (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.67;2.76), a university degree (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.19; 2.08), and the consultation of a specialist for internal medicine/cardiology vs. a general practitioner (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04; 1.39).

Conclusion: Despite a high degree of awareness and frequent use of fixed-dose combination drugs, only 41% of diagnosed, treated, and adherent HTN patients had their BP controlled. Immediate action is required to improve BP control in Austria.

Video abstract: : http://links.lww.com/HJH/A624.