Big Data and Blood Pressure Control: Insights from the PAMELA and BP-CARE Study Cohorts

Abstract

Purpose of review: The paper examines the patterns of BP control achieved in two large scale observational studies, i.e., the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study and the Blood Pressure control rate and CArdiovascular Risk profilE (BP-CARE), carried out in the general population and in treated hypertensive patients, respectively.

Recent findings: It is well known that only a minor fraction among the treated hypertensive patients exhibits a good blood pressure control. However, few study investigated blood pressure control on the basis not only of office, but also home and ambulatory blood pressure measurement, examining its impact on organ damage. In the whole sample of the PAMELA study, only in about 21.1% of cases treated hypertensive subjects exhibit a well-controlled office BP. Control of systolic blood pressure was rarer than the diastolic one. Control of home and, even more, ambulatory blood pressure was more frequent. Left ventricular mass was not normalized even when blood pressure was adequately controlled. Most subjects of BP-CARE study show high or very high cardiovascular risk, due to concomitant risk factors and organ damage. The percentage of well-treated hypertensive patients is lower when CV risk is higher.

Keywords: Ambulatory blood pressure; Blood pressure control; Home blood pressure; Office blood pressure; Organ damage.