Introduction: Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are inter-related ad mutually potentiating cardiovascular risk factors, which, when occurring together, strongly accelerate atherosclerosis and significantly increase cardiovascular risk.The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and control of both risk factors in the Czech population.
Methods: A 1 % population random sample aged 40-64 years was examined within the Czech post-MONICA in 2006-2009. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP 90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medication. Hypercholesterolemia was defined according to cardiovascular risk and LDL-cholesterol levels or use of lipid-lowering drugs.
Results: In a group of 2 508 persons (51 % of females), hypertension was found in 52 % and hypercholesterolemia in 40 % of examined individuals. Both risk factors occurred together in 30 % of subjects. While lipid-lowering drugs were used by 39 % of individuals with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, target LDL-cholesterol were achieved by only 42 % of treated individuals. Only a total of 10 % individuals with both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia achieved target levels for both risk factors.
Conclusion: Treatment and control of hypercholesterolemia in patients with hypertension remains unsatisfactory in the Czech Republic. Taking into account the high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and the substantial increase in cardiovascular risk, lipid-lowering drugs should be considered in each patient with hypertension.Key words: antihypertensive drugs - Czech post-MONICA - lipid-lowering drugs - SCORE - target values - total cardiovascular risk.