Achievement of target blood pressure in patients with arterial hypertension on the background of antihypertensive therapy in real clinical practice
Authors: Nedogoda S. V. , Sabanov A. V. 
Published: December 2018

Aim. To evaluate the features of pharmacotherapy in achieving different levels of target blood pressure (BP) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) with the absence or presence of comorbid diseases in real outpatient practice.

Material and methods. At the open multicenter observational study, outpatient physicians filled original patient questionnaires, which reflected the demographic data of patients, the presence of comorbid diseases and conditions prescribed antihypertensive drugs and achieved during treatment with their use levels of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), creatinine and blood glucose levels, as well as information about smoking. The obtained data were stratified into groups depending by the level of blood pressure achieved in patients during the therapy, as well as depending on the existing comorbid diseases. Estimated rate of prescription of antihypertensive agents, the number of components of therapy, the number assigned to tableted dosage forms (tablets). We also evaluated the frequency assignments of fixed combinations (FC). 

Results. The study included data from 2073 patients. They were divided into six groups according to the level of BP achieved. The groups were comparable by demographic and anthropometric characteristics, as well as in gender representation. In patients of the first group on the background of therapy were achieved the lowest values of blood pressure — 120­129/<80 mm Hg. art. They were less likely than other groups to detect comorbid diseases, less frequently prescribed thiazide/thiazide­like diuretics (TD), and FC were prescribed in 33,8%. In patients of the second group the blood pressure level was 130­139/<80 mm Hg. art., the duration of hypertension was the smallest, they were most often prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBS) and so on, and the share of FC was the maximum among the compared groups — 42,3%. In the third group, the blood pressure level was 120­139/80­89 mm Hg. St. These patients are most often prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), but rarely angiotensin receptors blockers (ARB), frequency assignments of FC — 37,8%. The level of blood pressure in patients of the fourth group who did not achieved the target value of SBP (≥140 mm Hg), in the fifth group — the target value of DBP (>90 mm Hg), and in the sixth group — the target values of SBP (≥140/>90 mm Hg. art.). Their share in the total sample was 19,9%, 4,1%, and 41,2%, respectively. Patients from these groups were more likely to have comorbid diseases, they were more often prescribed four or more components of therapy. BP level <130/<80 mm Hg in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) was achieved in 4,2%, in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in 8,3%. In these groups, a high frequency of beta­blockers (BB) was noted. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) had blood pressure levels of 130139/<80 mm Hg was 7,9%. Among patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) blood pressure 120­129/<80 mm Hg was achieved in 2%. In the general sample of patients, one component of antihypertensive therapy was prescribed in 5,8%, two — in 48,3%, three — in 34,7%, four or more — in 11,2%.

Conclusion. Target blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg was achieved at 34,8%, and the level of blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg — only at 11,5% of patients. In these patients, comorbid diseases were less often observed, from hypotensive drugs, ACEI, BB or TD were most often used, the predominant appointment of twocomponent antihypertensive therapy was noted, which was most often presented in the form of two tablets. In patients with comorbid diseases revealed a very low proportion of achieving the target level of blood pressure: with DM 2 — 4,2%, with CKD — 7,9%, with IHD — 8,3%, with stroke/TIA — 2%. Among the patients of the whole sample, two­ and three­component antihypertensive therapy was most often prescribed (48,3% and 34,7%, respectively). A greater number of antihypertensive components were prescribed to patients with several comorbid diseases, and, consequently, with a more severe course of hypertension.