title: Treatment and blood pressure control in Spain during 2002-2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the evolution of hypertension management and blood pressure (BP) control in Spain in the last decade across PRESCAP 2002, 2006 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methodology of the three studies was the same. They were multicenter and cross-sectional surveys aimed to determine BP control rates in hypertensive patients in primary care in Spain during 2002, 2006 and 2010, respectively. In each study, patients at least 18 years, with an established diagnosis of hypertension were included. Adequate BP control was defined as BP less than 140/90 mmHg in the general population (<130/85 mmHg in PRESCAP 2002 and less than 130/80 mmHg in PRESCAP 2006 and PRESCAP 2010 for patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12,754 patients (mean age 63.3 ± 10.8 years; 57.2% women), 10,520 patients (64.6 ± 11.3 years; 53.7% women) and 12,961 patients (66.3 ± 11.4; 52.0% women) were included in PRESCAP 2002, PRESCAP 2006 and PRESCAP 2010 studies respectively. With regard to BP control rates, 36.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.2-36.9%], 41.4% (95% CI 40.5-42.4%) and 46.3% of patients (95% CI 45.4-47.1%) achieved BP goals in PRESCAP 2002, PRESCAP 2006 and PRESCAP 2010, respectively (P < 0.0001). In PRESCAP 2002, 56% of patients were on monotherapy, 35.6% were taking two drugs and 8.4% at least three drugs. In PRESCAP 2006 these numbers were 44.4, 41.1 and 14.5%, respectively, and in PRESCAP 2010 they were 36.4, 44.1 and 19.5%, respectively (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BP control rates have improved in Spain from 2002 to 2010. This may be related, at least in part, with the higher use of antihypertensive treatment, particularly combined therapy.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Center Ingeniero Joaquín Benlloch, Valencia, Spain. jllisterric@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Llisterri
authors.forename: Gustavo C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Roca
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Alonso-Moreno
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Vivencio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Alsina
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Divisón
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pallarés
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents