Introduction: Knowledge about hypertension might influence blood pressure (BP) control and adherence to treatment.
Aim: This study was conducted in collaboration with 11 pharmacies to assess the level of knowledge about hypertension and BP targets among the hypertensive population in the French region of Alsace.
Methods: Study participants (N = 380) were hypertensive adult patients visiting a pharmacy spontaneously from June to October, 2013, to get their regular prescribed medications including at least one antihypertensive agent. After filling a questionnaire, they were asked to record their BP themselves.
Results: The participants were 66 years of age, mostly women (51%), non smokers (80%), with an education level lower than A-level (70%). Of them, 35% were obese and 74% reported being hypertensive for more than 12 years. Almost half of them used a home BP monitor. When queried about BP targets, 78% of participants gave values under 140/90 mm Hg. Heart disease and stroke were reported to be associated with hypertension by 78 and 66% of participants, respectively. Participants were taking two pharmacological classes mostly administered as fixed-combination drugs and 39.5% were compliant. Optimal BP targets (135/85) were achieved by 43%. A better BP control was observed significantly (p = 0.02) more often when BP targets were known. Uncontrolled participants were more likely (p = 0.006) to be aware of being hypertensive and less satisfied with BP control (p = 0.003).
Conclusions: This study highlights the impact of patient knowledge and BP self-monitoring as well as the role of pharmacists to improve hypertension control.
Keywords: Antihypertensive drugs; Blood pressure control; Comorbidities; Compliance; France; Hypertension; Hypertension knowledge; National survey.