Predictors of hypertension control in a diverse general cardiology practice

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010 Aug;12(8):570-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2010.00298.x.

Abstract

Factors influencing hypertension (HTN) control in the United States are not well understood. The authors utilized a newly designed survey instrument to interview patients presenting to a diverse, general cardiology practice at a tertiary care center in order to identify factors associated with HTN control. The study was completed in 154 participants, and 121 (78.6%) had HTN. Of those, 111 (91.7%) had awareness of HTN, and 72 (59.5%) had HTN control, defined as <140/90 mm Hg. In a multivariate analysis, race/ethnicity was not associated with HTN control, but private insurance (odds ratio [OR] 3.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-9.28), nonsmoker status (OR 4.36, CI 1.22-15.51), and number of medications used (OR 1.32, CI 1.12-1.56) were associated with HTN control. Correct recognition of systolic blood pressure goal and knowledge of one's current state of HTN control were also associated with control. In conclusion, in a general cardiology practice where patients had a high degree of healthcare access, race/ethnicity was not associated with HTN control, while type of insurance, nonsmoker status, and increased number of medications used were associated. In addition, 2 novel predictors of HTN control, recognition of systolic blood pressure goal and knowledge of HTN control, were identified that can be utilized in creating new HTN treatment interventions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asian / ethnology
  • Awareness
  • Black or African American / ethnology
  • Blood Pressure* / physiology
  • Female
  • General Practitioners*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Hispanic or Latino / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / ethnology*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Systole / physiology
  • White People / ethnology

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents