Awareness and Pharmacotherapy of Hypertension in a Rural Community

Objective: To determine the level of awareness of hypertension and pharmacological management in patients from a rural community of Australia. Subjects and Methods: A total of 665 patients were studied. The patients were recruited from Albury-Wodonga and surrounding districts, which are located in a rural area of south-eastern Australia. Demographic information and medical history were recorded for all patients. Clinical data were also recorded. Results: Of the 665 patients, 449 (75%) were hypertensive, and of these 449 hypertensive patients, 195 (43.4%) were aware that they had hypertension. Blood pressure was inadequately controlled in 399 of the hypertensive patients (88.9%) according to the management guidelines of the National Heart Foundation of Australia. Of all the patients who had hypertension, 247 (55.0%) were not receiving antihypertensive therapy. Of those receiving therapy, 132 (65.3%) were being administered only one antihypertensive (monotherapy). The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive classes were angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, diuretics, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Conclusion: The level of awareness of hypertension and its management appeared to be poor in hypertensive patients living in this rural Australian community. Actual hypertension control was extremely poor, and a major potential cause of this may be the poor use of anti-hypertensive medications in these patients. Strategies to improve the awareness of hypertension and its required management in patients residing in rural communities are recommended. Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel