title: Hypertensive patients in a general practice setting: comparative analysis between controlled and uncontrolled hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the differences between controlled and uncontrolled hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional observational study of the hypertensive population on the lists of three general practitioners in the district of Coimbra in central Portugal in 2013, with a margin of error of 6% and 95% confidence interval in each sample, organized in ascending order of health care user numbers. Data were gathered electronically by the investigators after approval by the Regional Health Authority's ethics committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sample of 201 individuals was studied, of whom 104 (51.7%) were male and 86 (42.8%) were aged under 65 (p=0.127 for gender and age-group). Hypertension was controlled in 130 (64.7%). We found significant differences in target organ damage, more frequent in those with controlled hypertension (33.1% vs. 19.7%, p=0.031), in hypertension control, better in those taking at least one anti-hypertensive drug at night (56.9% vs. 29.6%, p<0.001), and in prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, more frequent in those with uncontrolled hypertension (11.3% vs. 3.8%, p=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension control is significantly associated with target organ damage, taking at least one anti-hypertensive drug at night and not taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs simultaneously.
authors: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: lmsantiago@netcabo.pt.
authors: Luiz Miguel
authors: LM
authors: Santiago
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Pereira
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Botas
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Ana Rita
authors: AR
authors: Simões
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Carvalho
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Gonçalo
authors: G
authors: Pimenta
authors: USF Topázio, ACES Baixo Mondego, ARS do Centro IP, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Glória
authors: G
authors: Neto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Anti‐inflamatórios não esteroides; Chronotherapy; Control; Controlo; Cronoterapia; Hipertensão arterial; Hypertension; Lesão em órgão‐alvo; Medicamentos; Medicines; Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs; Target organ damage