Blood pressure control and knowledge of target blood pressure in coronary patients across Europe - Introduction

A Special Author Introduction
Journal of Hypertension
Official Journal of the European Society of Hypertension and the International Society of Hypertension

ISSN: 0263-6352 • Frequency: 12/year • Subscribe Now • Journal Website

By Christof Prugger

Blood pressure control reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal recurrent events in patients with established coronary heart disease. However, studies from recent years have lead to the recognition that blood pressure is insufficiently controlled among coronary heart disease patients. The EUROASPIRE surveys (EUROpean Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events) revealed that blood pressure control among coronary patients across Europe remained virtually unchanged between 1995-1996 and 2006-2007 with less than half of patients achieving their blood pressure target. Despite the available evidence on the epidemic, few studies have so far investigated the reasons for poor blood pressure control in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Previous studies observed lower blood pressure control among coronary heart disease patients with diabetes, obesity and hypercholesterolaemia.

In primary prevention settings, accurate knowledge of target blood pressure has been shown to be associated with better hypertension control. Further, lacking knowledge of target blood pressure has been related to poor compliance concerning medication use and clinic visits. Thus, we hypothesized that patients’ cardiovascular risk profile and knowledge about their blood pressure target values may be major determinants of blood pressure control among coronary heart disease patients. This hypothesis was investigated within the EUROASPIRE III survey, a multicentre cross-sectional study that was conducted among coronary patients from 76 centers in 22 European regions.

The aim of our study was to identify particular patient groups with uncontrolled blood pressure that may need to be specifically targeted in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

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