Maximilian König1,2, Maik Gollasch3,4, Adrian Rosada5, Ilja Demuth6,7, Dominik Spira6, Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen6,8. 1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany. koenig.maximilian@charite.de. 2. Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany. koenig.maximilian@charite.de. 3. Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany. 4. Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), A joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers, Berlin, Germany. 5. Department of Geriatrics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany. 6. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany. 7. Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Medicine (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 8. Division of Geriatrics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is highly prevalent in older adults and represents a major public health issue since recognition, awareness, treatment and control are insufficient. Analyses of prescription patterns in conjunction with clinical parameters can provide novel insights into the current practice of hypertension management and help to identify barriers to sufficient hypertension control. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Prevalence of hypertension, patterns of antihypertensive therapy, and determinants of blood pressure (BP) control were examined in the Berlin Aging Study II cohort, including 1654 community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years of age). RESULTS: Of the participants, 75.9% had hypertension; 40.6% of these were not prescribed BP medications. Lack of hypertension awareness, younger age, absence of comorbidities, not being on a statin, and not having visited a physician in the past 3 months were associated with lack of treatment. Forty-two percent of treated hypertensive individuals received monotherapy and 58.0% received combination therapy. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, and β-blockers were most commonly prescribed, while calcium channel blockers were least prescribed. Only 38.5% of treated hypertensive individuals had their BP controlled to < 140/90 mmHg. Number and choice of BP medications were not predictive of BP control; neither were age, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), kidney function, or number of healthcare visits. However, female sex, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and current smoking, amongst others, were positively associated with BP control. There was evidence of significant effect modification by statins in the association of LDL-C and BP. CONCLUSION: The majority of older adults do not reach BP goals. Antihypertensive prescription patterns do not conform to current guidelines. Using more BP medications was not associated with higher odds of BP control. Lowering LDL-C might be favorable in terms of BP control.
BACKGROUND:Hypertension is highly prevalent in older adults and represents a major public health issue since recognition, awareness, treatment and control are insufficient. Analyses of prescription patterns in conjunction with clinical parameters can provide novel insights into the current practice of hypertension management and help to identify barriers to sufficient hypertension control. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Prevalence of hypertension, patterns of antihypertensive therapy, and determinants of blood pressure (BP) control were examined in the Berlin Aging Study II cohort, including 1654 community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years of age). RESULTS: Of the participants, 75.9% had hypertension; 40.6% of these were not prescribed BP medications. Lack of hypertension awareness, younger age, absence of comorbidities, not being on a statin, and not having visited a physician in the past 3 months were associated with lack of treatment. Forty-two percent of treated hypertensive individuals received monotherapy and 58.0% received combination therapy. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, and β-blockers were most commonly prescribed, while calcium channel blockers were least prescribed. Only 38.5% of treated hypertensive individuals had their BP controlled to < 140/90 mmHg. Number and choice of BP medications were not predictive of BP control; neither were age, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), kidney function, or number of healthcare visits. However, female sex, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and current smoking, amongst others, were positively associated with BP control. There was evidence of significant effect modification by statins in the association of LDL-C and BP. CONCLUSION: The majority of older adults do not reach BP goals. Antihypertensive prescription patterns do not conform to current guidelines. Using more BP medications was not associated with higher odds of BP control. Lowering LDL-C might be favorable in terms of BP control.
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Authors: Giuseppe Mancia; Robert Fagard; Krzysztof Narkiewicz; Josep Redon; Alberto Zanchetti; Michael Böhm; Thierry Christiaens; Renata Cifkova; Guy De Backer; Anna Dominiczak; Maurizio Galderisi; Diederick E Grobbee; Tiny Jaarsma; Paulus Kirchhof; Sverre E Kjeldsen; Stéphane Laurent; Athanasios J Manolis; Peter M Nilsson; Luis Miguel Ruilope; Roland E Schmieder; Per Anton Sirnes; Peter Sleight; Margus Viigimaa; Bernard Waeber; Faiez Zannad; Josep Redon; Anna Dominiczak; Krzysztof Narkiewicz; Peter M Nilsson; Michel Burnier; Margus Viigimaa; Ettore Ambrosioni; Mark Caufield; Antonio Coca; Michael Hecht Olsen; Roland E Schmieder; Costas Tsioufis; Philippe van de Borne; Jose Luis Zamorano; Stephan Achenbach; Helmut Baumgartner; Jeroen J Bax; Héctor Bueno; Veronica Dean; Christi Deaton; Cetin Erol; Robert Fagard; Roberto Ferrari; David Hasdai; Arno W Hoes; Paulus Kirchhof; Juhani Knuuti; Philippe Kolh; Patrizio Lancellotti; Ales Linhart; Petros Nihoyannopoulos; Massimo F Piepoli; Piotr Ponikowski; Per Anton Sirnes; Juan Luis Tamargo; Michal Tendera; Adam Torbicki; William Wijns; Stephan Windecker; Denis L Clement; Antonio Coca; Thierry C Gillebert; Michal Tendera; Enrico Agabiti Rosei; Ettore Ambrosioni; Stefan D Anker; Johann Bauersachs; Jana Brguljan Hitij; Mark Caulfield; Marc De Buyzere; Sabina De Geest; Geneviève Anne Derumeaux; Serap Erdine; Csaba Farsang; Christian Funck-Brentano; Vjekoslav Gerc; Giuseppe Germano; Stephan Gielen; Herman Haller; Arno W Hoes; Jens Jordan; Thomas Kahan; Michel Komajda; Dragan Lovic; Heiko Mahrholdt; Michael Hecht Olsen; Jan Ostergren; Gianfranco Parati; Joep Perk; Jorge Polonia; Bogdan A Popescu; Zeljko Reiner; Lars Rydén; Yuriy Sirenko; Alice Stanton; Harry Struijker-Boudier; Costas Tsioufis; Philippe van de Borne; Charalambos Vlachopoulos; Massimo Volpe; David A Wood Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2013-06-14 Impact factor: 29.983