Improving patient compliance: a major goal in the management of hypertension.

The primary goal in the treatment of hypertension is to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Studies performed to assess the impact of treating hypertension have revealed very disappointing reductions in the incidence of coronary heart disease. There are several reasons for these poor reductions in the incidence of cardiovascular disease; however, the most important is related to the fact that worldwide less than one quarter of hypertensive patients are adequately controlled for hypertension. Again, there are multiple reasons for these poor blood pressure (BP) control rates; however, most physicians would agree that patient compliance with their antihypertensive treatment is a major contributing factor. This is an area that we need to refocus on in our management of hypertensive patients. Issues such as safety, convenience, polypharmacy, cost, and education in the selection of antihypertensive agents are all critically important issues in the treatment of hypertensive patients. In addition, the level of patient involvement in their treatment seems to be essential in obtaining goal BP. Newer approaches to the management of hypertension such as earlier control of BP and the more aggressive use of low-dose combination therapy as first-line treatment of hypertension also need to be considered in our effort to improve BP control rates. Achieving goal BP in hypertensive patients is one of the most important clinical dilemmas facing physicians. There is little doubt that an improvement in control rates will result in substantial reductions in cardiovascular disease. Copyright 2003 Le Jacq Communications, Inc.