BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is higher in northern than southern Germany. To illuminate this further current epidemiological data on arterial hypertension were obtained and compared with previously collected data. METHODS: The results were based on interview and measurement data of 25- to 64 year-old participants in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-0 1997 - 2001; n = 3,042), and three population-representative surveys in the region of Augsburg, Southern Germany (MONICA S2 1989/90 n = 3,966; MONICA S3 1994/95 n = 3,916; S4 1999-2001 [KORA-2000 n = 3,464]). Hypertension was defined according to the WHO/ISH guidelines as blood pressure levels of > or =140/90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication given the subjects with known hypertension. Antihypertensive medication was classified as recommended by the German Hypertension Society. RESULTS: Currently, 57 % (95 % confidence intervall [CI] 54-59 %) of men and 32 % (CI 30-35) of women in Pomerania had hypertension compared to 36 % (CI 34-38 %) and 23 % (CI 21-25 %) in KORA-2000 with some decreases since MONICA S2 und S3. Although a significantly higher prevalence was found in the north than in the south, the medical care was equally poor in both regions: 44-46 % of men and 29-31 % of women were not aware of their hypertension. Among the hypertensives, only 26-31 % of males and 44-48 % of females were being treated for hypertension, mostly with beta blockers, ACE-inhibitors, calcium antagonists, diuretics and AT(1)-antagonists, at least half being given just one of these drugs. Fewer than half of the treated hypertensives were normotensive, regardless of the antihypertensive drug group that was given. CONCLUSION: As the overall situation regarding the treatment of hypertension remains inadequate, an aggressive approach to applying the evidence-based guidelines is essential. The underlying causes of this unacceptable degree of hypertension control requires further intensive investigation.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is higher in northern than southern Germany. To illuminate this further current epidemiological data on arterial hypertension were obtained and compared with previously collected data. METHODS: The results were based on interview and measurement data of 25- to 64 year-old participants in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-0 1997 - 2001; n = 3,042), and three population-representative surveys in the region of Augsburg, Southern Germany (MONICA S2 1989/90 n = 3,966; MONICA S3 1994/95 n = 3,916; S4 1999-2001 [KORA-2000 n = 3,464]). Hypertension was defined according to the WHO/ISH guidelines as blood pressure levels of > or =140/90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication given the subjects with known hypertension. Antihypertensive medication was classified as recommended by the German Hypertension Society. RESULTS: Currently, 57 % (95 % confidence intervall [CI] 54-59 %) of men and 32 % (CI 30-35) of women in Pomerania had hypertension compared to 36 % (CI 34-38 %) and 23 % (CI 21-25 %) in KORA-2000 with some decreases since MONICA S2 und S3. Although a significantly higher prevalence was found in the north than in the south, the medical care was equally poor in both regions: 44-46 % of men and 29-31 % of women were not aware of their hypertension. Among the hypertensives, only 26-31 % of males and 44-48 % of females were being treated for hypertension, mostly with beta blockers, ACE-inhibitors, calcium antagonists, diuretics and AT(1)-antagonists, at least half being given just one of these drugs. Fewer than half of the treated hypertensives were normotensive, regardless of the antihypertensive drug group that was given. CONCLUSION: As the overall situation regarding the treatment of hypertension remains inadequate, an aggressive approach to applying the evidence-based guidelines is essential. The underlying causes of this unacceptable degree of hypertension control requires further intensive investigation.
Authors: Tamara Schikowski; Claudia Wigmann; Kateryna B Fuks; Sabine Schipf; Margit Heier; Hannelore Neuhauser; Giselle Sarganas; Wolfgang Ahrens; Heiko Becher; Klaus Berger; Hermann Brenner; Stefanie Castell; Antje Damms-Machado; Marcus Dörr; Nina Ebert; Ljupcho Efremov; Carina Emmel; Stephan B Felix; Beate Fischer; Claus-Werner Franzke; Sylvia Gastell; Kathrin Günther; Johannes Haerting; Till Ittermann; Lina Jaeschke; Annika Jagodzinski; Karl-Heinz Jöckel; Rudolphe Kaaks; Sonja Kalinowski; Thomas Keil; Yvonne Kemmling; Alexander Kluttig; Lilian Krist; Oliver Kuss; Nicole Legath; Michael Leitzmann; Wolfgang Lieb; Markus Löffler; Claudia Meinke-Franze; Karin B Michels; Rafael Mikolajczyk; Susanne Moebus; Sebastian Nuding; Annette Peters; Tobias Pischon; Ina-Maria Rückert-Eheberg; Ben Schöttker; Börge Schmidt; Carsten Oliver Schmidt; Matthias B Schulze; Andreas Stang; Inke Thiele; Sigrid Thierry; Barbara Thorand; Henry Völzke; Sabina Waniek; Karl Werdan; Kerstin Wirkner; Karin Halina Greiser Journal: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 1.513
Authors: Felix Mahfoud; Frank Himmel; Christian Ukena; Heribert Schunkert; Michael Böhm; Joachim Weil Journal: Dtsch Arztebl Int Date: 2011-10-28 Impact factor: 5.594
Authors: Thomas Weber; Robert Zweiker; Bruno Watschinger; Peter Grüner; Christian Koppelstätter; Mathias C Brandt; Jörg Horina; Helmut Brussee; Katharina Hohenstein; Thomas Lambert; Johann Auer; Uta C Hoppe Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2012-11-27 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Kai Mortensen; Klaas Franzen; Frank Himmel; Frank Bode; Heribert Schunkert; Joachim Weil; Michael Reppel Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2012-09-11 Impact factor: 3.738