title: Prevalence and control of high blood pressure in primary care: results from the German Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Study (GEMCAS).
abstract: Contemporary epidemiological data on blood pressure readings, hypertension prevalence and control in unselected patient populations covering a broad age range are scarce. The aim here is to report the prevalence of high blood pressure and to identify factors associated with blood pressure control in a large German primary care sample. We used data from the German Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Study including 35 869 patients aged 18-99 years. High blood pressure was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg or using antihypertensive therapy. Factors associated with blood pressure control among patients receiving antihypertensive therapy were examined using multiple logistic regressions to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The prevalence of high blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure and untreated high blood pressure was 54.8%, 21.3% and 17.6%, respectively. Age >50 years (1.52; 1.40-1.65), male sex (1.30; 1.20-1.41), elevated waist circumference (1.55; 1.45-1.65), high cholesterol (1.24; 1.16-1.33), high triglycerides (1.11; 1.04-1.19) and concomitant diabetes (1.29; 1.20-1.40) were independently associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure. In a majority of patients we observed hypertension despite treatment for high blood pressures. Studies examining the reasons for treatment failure are highly warranted.
authors.affiliation: 1] Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany [2] Providence Health Care Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Chakrapani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balijepalli
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Preventive Medicine, Mahlow, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramlage
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lösch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Preventive Medicine, Mahlow, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zemmrich
authors.affiliation: Providence Health Care Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Karin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Humphries
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents