08 Apr 1 in 4 Patients With Controlled Hypertension Relapse

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Amneet Sandhu, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
University of Colorado
Aurora, CO 80045.

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Sandhu: Control of hypertension has improved nationally to guideline recommended levels.  To date, the focus of hypertensive care has been around identification and appropriate treatment to blood pressure goals.  Less emphasis has been placed on maintenance of control or tracking patients with high rates of relapse after achieving control.

This study sought to assess the rate of recidivism in a cohort of hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure and identify patient and process of care factors associated with recidivism.  We found approximately 25% of hypertensive patients with baseline controlled blood pressure relapse over a median time period of 7.3 months.  Patients with diabetes, high normal baseline blood pressure and poor medication adherence were more likely to suffer from recidivism.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Sandhu: The intent of our study was to highlight the rate of recidivism in hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure and identify factors associated with this finding.  Clinicians should be cognizant that recidivism occurs in up to 1 in 4 hypertensive patients with baseline controlled blood pressure. Close attention must be paid to long term blood pressure control in diabetics, those with high normal baseline blood pressures and patients with poor medication adherence.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Sandhu: First, future work should focus around establishing recidivism rates in other, broad communities.  In addition, it is imperative we devise and study strategies tailored to address recidivism which may assist in improving long term blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.

Citation:

Recidivism to Uncontrolled Blood Pressure in Patients with Previously Controlled Hypertension

Amneet Sandhu, MD, P. Michael Ho, MD, PhD, Steve Asche, MA, David J. Magid, MD, MPH, Karen L. Margolis, MD, MPH, JoAnn Sperl-Hillen, MD, Bill Rush, PhD, David W. Price, MD, Heidi Ekstrom, MA, Heather Tavel, Olga Godlevsky, Patrick J. O’Connor, MD, MA, MPH

Received: May 22, 2014; Accepted: March 17, 2015; Published Online: March 31, 2015

Sandhu, Amneet et al. American Heart Journal

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MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Amneet Sandhu, MD (2015). 1 in 4 Patients With Controlled Hypertension Relapse 

Last Updated on April 8, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD