title: Blood pressure control in anticoagulated patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical profile and blood pressure (BP) control rates of anticoagulated patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The PAULA study was a multicenter cross-sectional/retrospective observational study conducted throughout Spain. The study included patients with nonvalvular AF who were receiving vitamin K antagonist therapy during the past year and were attended at primary care setting. Adequate BP control was defined according to 2013 ESC/ESH guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,222 hypertensive patients were included (mean age 77.9 ± 8.3 years; 51.2% women; CHADS22.5 ± 1.1; CHA2DS2-VASc 4.2 ± 1.4; HAS-BLED 1.6 ± 0.9). 33.5% of patients had diabetes, 24.9% heart failure and 14.0% prior stroke/transient ischemic attack. Mean BP was 131.4 ± 14.5/74.9 ± 9.8 mm Hg. With regard to antihypertensive treatment, most of patients were on combined therapy (67.9%). The commonest prescribed antihypertensive drugs were diuretics (64.4%), followed by angiotensin receptor blockers (30.1%), and beta blockers (29.4%). 75.2% of hypertensive patients achieved BP control targets; 86.6% of patients ≥80 years and 67.6% of diabetics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 75% of hypertensive patients with AF achieved BP goals, and this rate was higher in elderly. More than 2 thirds of patients were on combined therapy. BP control appears to be better in AF patients than in general hypertensive population.
authors.affiliation: a Cardiology Department , University Hospital Ramon y Cajal , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Vivencio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.affiliation: b Cardiology Department , University Hospital La Paz , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.affiliation: c Medical Biostatistics , Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto Valiente
authors.affiliation: d Jazmin Primary Care Health Center , East Area Primary Care , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lobos
authors.affiliation: e High Resolution Hospitalization Unit , Hospital el Toyo, Hospital de Poniente El Ejido , Almeria , Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vargas-Ortega
authors.affiliation: f Primary Care Health Center Casar de Cáceres , Cáceres , Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.affiliation: g Medical Department , Bayer Hispania , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marin Montañés
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Anticoagulation; atrial fibrillation; blood pressure control; hypertension