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Half of stroke survivors in US have poorly controlled hypertension

Issue: April 2012

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International Stroke Conference 2012

NEW ORLEANS — One in two stroke survivors have poorly controlled hypertension and equally poor rates of antihypertensive therapy, according to data presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference.

Amytis Towfighi, MD, and colleagues reviewed the prevalence and control of hypertension among 490 adult stroke survivors who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004, with mortality follow-up through 2006.

“Of individuals who had a prior stroke, only 47% had BP that was well controlled, defined as less than 140 mm Hg/90 mm Hg,” Towfighi, of the University of Southern California and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, told Cardiology Today.

More than 70% of the study cohort had known hypertension, and 8% had undiagnosed hypertension.

The researchers also determined predictors of poorly controlled BP and nontreatment. Results showed:

• Age, female sex, Hispanic ethnicity and diabetes were associated with poorly controlled BP.
• Participants who had a previous MI, drank alcohol or were overweight were less likely to have poorly controlled BP.
• Among those with poorly controlled BP, hypercholesterolemia and male sex were predictors of nontreatment with antihypertensive medications, whereas current smoking or being overweight were linked to treatment.
• Participants who were taking antihypertensive medications had lower rates of death from all causes, but this did not reach statistical significance.

“Since hypertension is the premier modifiable risk factor for stroke, more intensive efforts at identifying, treating and controlling BP are necessary,” Towfighi said in an interview. – by Katie Kalvaitis

For more information:

• Towfighi A. Abstract #3356. Presented at: the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2012; Feb. 1-3, 2012; New Orleans.

Disclosure: Dr. Towfighi reports no relevant financial disclosures.