title: Attitudes and preferences for the clinical management of patients with hypertension and hypertension with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Italy: main results of a survey questionnaire.
abstract: Hypertension treatment and control represent a clinical challenge, particularly in case of concomitant risk factors and comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To evaluate attitudes and preferences for the clinical management of hypertension and hypertension associated with COPD by a large community sample of physicians in Italy. A predefined 18-item survey questionnaire was anonymously administered to both specialised physicians (SPs) and general practitioners (GPs), who have been included in an educational programme, performed between January and June 2014. A total of 1181 physicians (767 males, mean age 55.8 ± 7.3 years, average age of medical activity 27.6 ± 8.3 years), among whom 64 (5.4 %) SPs and 1117 (94.6 %) GPs, provided 21,809 valid answers to the survey questionnaire. Concomitant presence of hypertension and COPD was frequently associated (21-40 %) with hypertension-related organ damage and comorbidities. Concomitant presence of hypertension and COPD was able to affect physicians' ability to achieve the recommended therapeutic targets. To achieve the recommended BP goals, ACE inhibitors or ARBs were considered the most effective antihypertensive strategies, both in monotherapies and in combination therapies with either diuretics or calcium-channel blockers. This observational, cross-sectional survey provides useful information on physicians' attitudes and preferences for the clinical management of patients with hypertension and hypertension associated with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy. giuliano.tocci@uniroma1.it.|IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy. giuliano.tocci@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tocci
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Arrigo F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passerini
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy.|IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics
keywords: Blood pressure control; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical survey; Hypertension control; Hypertension management; Observational study