Key points from article :
High blood pressure is controlled in only two out of five UK patients.
Older age, black ethnicity, and low earnings are linked to poor blood pressure control.
Despite the availability of inexpensive drug treatments, many people remain undiagnosed or inadequately treated.
Final analysis included 99,468 people.
Blood pressure was controlled in only 38% of those on treatment.
When higher cut-off blood pressure threshold of less than 160/100 mm Hg was applied, 21% weren’t being treated properly.
Nearly 4% of those on treatment had a systolic blood pressure of 180 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure of 110 mmHg.
‘Having coexisting conditions... was associated with higher probability of control, may be due to more frequent interaction with the healthcare system and/or appropriate management,’ - Neo Tapela, co-author of the study.
‘More research is needed to understand barriers to high blood pressure control’ - Dr Tapela.
Research by University of Oxford published in Open Heart.
