ISSN 1016-5169 | E-ISSN 1308-4488
Archives of the Turkish Society of Cardiology
An observational study to evaluate the clinical practice of cardiovascular risk management among hypertensive patients in Turkey [Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars]
Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2011; 39(6): 445-455 | DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2011.01592

An observational study to evaluate the clinical practice of cardiovascular risk management among hypertensive patients in Turkey

Omer Kozan, On Behalf Of The Riskman Study Group
Department Of Cardiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty Of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey


OBJECTIVES
We evaluated clinical practice in cardiovascular risk management and related patient compliance among Turkish hypertensive patients.

STUDY DESIGN
This noninterventional, observational study included 1023 patients (620 women, 403 men; mean age 58.4±10.6 years) with essential hypertension, from 50 centers across Turkey. Patients were evaluated at a cross-sectional phase and a follow-up phase of nine months. Data obtained at the cross-sectional phase included patient demographics, medical and past history, cardiovascular risk status, and current practice patterns regarding cardiovascular risk management.

RESULTS
The mean duration of hypertension was 8.1±7.1 years. The mean body mass index was 30.3±5.2 kg/m2 and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BP) were 147.8±22.4 and 88.9±12.5 mmHg, respectively. Ten-year coronary heart disease risk and risk level were significantly higher in males, and significantly increased in the presence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and renal disease and/or microalbuminuria (p<0.05). In past year history of cardiovascular risk management, 7.3% of the patients did not have BP measurements; no diet was recommended to 15.6%; 79.3% had high BP levels, and patient compliance with antihypertensive drug treatment and dietary recommendations were 87.7% and 62.5%, respectively. A similar profile was observed for dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. The physicians’ efforts to motivate the patients to quit smoking, to lose weight, and involve in physical exercise were far below satisfactory levels, and the patients’ compliance rates with these recommendations were even lower.

CONCLUSION
Our study demonstrates that hypertensive patients are not adequately evaluated for cardiovascular risk, which is significantly increased in the presence of various cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and renal disease.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases/prevention & control, hypertension/therapy/prevention & control; patient compliance; practice guidelines as topic; risk assessment/methods

How to cite this article
Omer Kozan, On Behalf Of The Riskman Study Group. An observational study to evaluate the clinical practice of cardiovascular risk management among hypertensive patients in Turkey. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2011; 39(6): 445-455

Corresponding Author: Omer Kozan, On Behalf Of The Riskman Study Group, Türkiye
Manuscript Language: English


Journal Metrics

Journal Citation Indicator: 0.18
CiteScore: 1.1
Source Normalized Impact
per Paper:
0.22
SCImago Journal Rank: 0.348

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