title: Management of blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide survey in korean.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is common in patients with type 2 diabetes, affecting up to 60% of patients. The Korean Diabetes Association performed a nationwide survey about prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension among diabetic Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current survey included 3,859 diabetic patients recruited from 43 hospitals in Korea. Age, gender, height, weight and blood pressure (BP) were measured by standard methods. Data on fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), awareness of hypertension, and compliance of antihypertensive medication were collected via interview and reviewed using patient medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 57.5% of all patients were >60 years old. Their mean HbA1c was 7.6±1.5%. Among antihypertensive medication users, 39.9% had <130 mm Hg and <80 mm Hg, whereas 60.1% had ≥130 mm Hg or ≥80 mm Hg. The answer "BP is under good control" was given by 75.1% of the antihypertensive medication users. Out of these patients, 26.4% had <130 mm Hg and <80 mm Hg, whereas 73.6% had ≥130 mm Hg or ≥80 mm Hg. A total of 75.5% of antihypertensive medication users answered that they had taken their antihypertensive medication every day for the past 2 weeks. "Forgetfulness" was most frequently the reason of non-compliance for patients that did not take their antihypertensive medication regularly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately one third of the patients with diabetes were found to reach target blood pressure control in the 43 hospitals across Korea. Stricter control is needed to reduce severe complications of diabetes in Korea.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Mi Hae
authors: MH
authors: Seo
authors: Woo Je
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Cheol Young
authors: CY
authors: Park
authors: Sung Rae
authors: SR
authors: Kim
authors: Joong Yeol
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Kun-Ho
authors: KH
authors: Yoon
authors: Moon Kyu
authors: MK
authors: Lee
authors: Sung Woo
authors: SW
authors: Park