Aussie blood pressure
February 20, 2012
A NEW study has found that
despite current treatment targets,
many Australians with
cardiovascular disease still have
persistently high blood pressure.
The findings were part of Baker
IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute’s
Pressure Points in Primary Care study,
Australia’s largest study of blood
pressure levels in general practice.
The study looked at more than
116,000 patients whose blood
pressure readings were recorded in
2009-10 (after the introduction [in
2008] of individualised treatment
targets based on risk categories),
and found that 48% of patients
without CVD or related conditions
and 59% of patients with CVD or a
related condition recorded a blood
pressure level above their target
(130/80mmHg and 140/90 mmHg
respectively) despite treatment.
Interestingly, researchers noted
that 19% of patients who recorded
high blood pressure levels (>140/
90mmHg) were not prescribed
blood pressure lowering drugs.
Looking at the blood pressure
records of 532,050 adults who
visited their GP between 2005 and
2010, researchers also found that
of the 25% of patients who took
antihypertensive drugs, 41% had
blood pressure levels above the
traditional treatment targets.
“It is clear that we need to apply
more intensive and systematic
approaches (including treatment
and follow-up programs) to blood
pressure management in primary
care to assist healthcare professionals
and their patients to reach ideal
blood pressure levels,” said Baker
IDI’s Professor Simon Stewart.
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