Poor hypertension control in Greek patients with diabetes in rural areas. The VANK study in primary care.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine hypertension prevalence and levels of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among diabetic patients using data from the VANK study.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 221 men and women (122/99) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants. Controlled hypertension definition was based on having a systolic blood pressure (BP) of <130 mmHg and diastolic BP of <85 mmHg in subjects taking antihypertensive medications.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD BP was 141.6 +/- 17.4 mmHg and 81.2 +/- 9.4 mmHg for systolic and diastolic BPs, respectively. Systolic and diastolic BP was higher in men than in women. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 194/221 (87.7%). In total, 34.1% of patients (66/194) were not aware of having hypertension. Of those who were aware of having hypertension (n = 128, 65.9%), all were treated. Among those treated, only 11 persons (11/194, 5.6%) had systolic BP <130 mmHg and diastolic BP <85 mmHg. Sixty-two (38.7%) had systolic BP <140 mmHg and diastolic BP <90 mmHg.


CONCLUSIONS
Although all of the diagnosed hypertensive patients (n = 128) received antihypertensive drug therapy, in only 8.6% (11/128) the treatment was effective (BP <130/85 mmHg). Translating our findings into clinical practice, there is a need for aggressive treatment of hypertension from primary care physicians, as well as regular surveillance to detect developing hypertension in diabetic patients.
Skliros
E
E
Health Centre of Nemea, Nemea, Korinthos, Greece. eskliros@otenet.gr
Sotiropoulos
A
A
Vasibossis
A
A
Xipnitos
C
C
Chronopoulos
I
I
Razis
N
N
Merkouris
Panagiotis
P
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000208:ethnology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology