Objectives: To examine the evolution of clinical profile, management of hypertension, and blood pressure (BP) control according to sex in the past decade in Spain.
Methods: Data were taken from three surveys (PRESión arterial en la población española en los Centros de Atención Primaria studies) aimed to determine BP control rates in treated hypertensive patients, who attended the primary care in Spain during 2002, 2006, and 2010, respectively. Adequate BP control was defined as BP lower than 140/90 mmHg for the general hypertensive population in the three surveys. In patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular disease, BP control was established as lower than 130/85 mmHg in the 2002 survey and lower than 130/80 mmHg in the 2006 and 2010 surveys.
Results: A total of 12 754 (57.2% women), 10 520 (53.7% women), and 12 961 (51.7% women) patients were included. The proportion of patients with cardiovascular disease increased from 27.1% in men and 21.9% in women in 2002, to 33.0 and 23.9%, respectively, in 2010 (P < 0.0001 in men and women, respectively). In 2002, 36.3% of men and 35.9% of women achieved BP goals (P = NS); 39.7 and 42.9% in 2006 (P < 0.001); and 44.7 and 47.9% in 2010 (P < 0.0001). The proportion of men on combined therapy increased from 44.2% in 2002 to 63.9% in 2010 (P for trend < 0.0001), and in women it increased from 43.9 and 63.2%, respectively (P for trend <0.0001).
Conclusion: Despite the fact that clinical profile of treated hypertensive patients has worsened in the past years in Spain, BP control rates have improved, particularly in women. This improvement was related with a higher use of combined therapy, regardless of sex.