Treatment and blood pressure control in 47,964 people with diabetes and hypertension: a systematic review of observational studies.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with diabetes also have hypertension, greatly increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease. It has been suggested that hypertension is poorly treated in those with diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
To examine treatment and control of hypertension in people with diabetes.


METHODS
Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, HealthSTAR, CINAHL, Web of Science, clinical evidence and government health and statistical Web sites.


METHODS
Databases were systematically reviewed and hand searches of the bibliographies of relevant studies (1990 to 2004) were conducted. Two investigators selected studies and extracted the data independently.


RESULTS
A total of 44 studies (77,649 subjects with diabetes, 47,964 [62%] of whom also had hypertension) were included. While 83% (range 32% to 100%) of patients with hypertension received drug therapy, only 12% (range 6% to 30%) had their blood pressure (BP) controlled to 130/85 mmHg or less. While BP control rates differed by definition of control (those studies with the least stringent definitions for BP control--160/90 mmHg or less--reported mean control rates of 37%), treatment and control rates did not differ appreciably between countries or health care settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Fewer than one in eight people with diabetes and hypertension have adequately controlled BP, with remarkable uniformity across studies conducted in a variety of settings. There is an urgent need for multidisciplinary, community-based approaches to manage these high-risk patients.
McLean
Donna L
DL
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Simpson
Scot H
SH
McAlister
Finlay A
FA
Tsuyuki
Ross T
RT
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents