title: The relation between knowledge about hypertension and education in hospitalized patients with stroke in Vienna.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge about hypertension and its control influences blood pressure control in patients with hypertension. We assessed these parameters in a large cohort of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and analyzed their association with educational attainment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred ninety-one consecutive patients with stroke with a medical history of hypertension were interviewed about knowledge concerning hypertension within a multicenter hospital-based stroke registry. We analyzed answers in relation to educational level with multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven percent of the patients stated to have known about hypertension being a risk factor for stroke, but only 30% felt at increased risk of stroke. Less than half (47%) could identify 140 mm Hg or less as the maximum tolerated systolic blood pressure, and 53% had their blood pressure only controlled monthly or less often. Knowledge of possible consequences of myocardial infarction, nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and retinopathy was 64%, 20%, 11%, and 16%, respectively. Approximately half of patients were acquainted with the nonpharmacologic treatment options of physical activity (49%), reduction of salt intake (54%), and reduction of caloric intake (48%), whereas relaxation techniques were only known to 17%. Adherence to those treatment options ranged from 42% to 67%. Educational level was significantly associated with knowledge of increased risk, possible consequences of hypertension, and knowledge about nonmedication treatment options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge in our population was insufficient and partly associated with educational level, leaving much room for improvement by educational campaigns. Furthermore, we found a gap between knowledge of the increased risk for stroke in patients with hypertension and awareness of their own risk.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Neurology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samal
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greisenegger
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Auff
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lalouschek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000193:education; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control