People suffering fromhypertension blood pressure are they being followed? December 16, 2015 is the National Day against High Blood Pressure (HTA). On this occasion, the French Committee for the Fight against Arterial Hypertension (CFLHTA) presents the results of its FLAHS 2015 study, conducted by Kantar Health among more than 6,379 French people aged 55 and over.
More checks and self-measurement
Even if the objectives set by the CFLHTA are not achieved, the monitoring of hypertensive patients is progressing. Thus, 55% of treated hypertensive patients over the age of 55 are controlled, that is to say they present arterial pressureless than 135 mm of mercury in systolic pressure and less than 85 mm of mercury for diastolic pressure, against only 35% in 2002. This improvement is explained in particular by the implementation of French and European recommendations and by distribution since 2013 ofself-measuring devices to general practitioners by the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM). Doctors can lend this device to their patients so that they can measure their blood pressure themselves before coming for a consultation. 44% of hypertensive patients treated now have a self-measuring device and know how to take their blood pressure correctly, against 36% in 2010. The advantage of this practice is to adapt treatments as best as possible thanks to reliable and reliable measurements. to limit “the white blouse effect“which can generate higher tension when standing in front of a doctor.”Since 2002, we have observed an improvement in blood pressure control with this methodology. It is the best way to assess the blood pressure of a hypertensive patient.“explains Professor Xavier Girerd, cardiologist at the Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital Center (CHU) and CFLHTA treasurer.
Better adapted treatments
The FLAHS study also highlights an evolution of the treatments: the prescription of monotherapies decreases in favor of that of dual and triple therapies, better suited to hypertension and more effective. “Hypertension is a multifactorial disease: age, sex, heredity, salt, nervous system … A single drug cannot treat all of these factors. It is therefore necessary to make drug combinations to improve the control of hypertensive patients.“, develops Dr. Bernard Vaïsse, president of the CFLHTA and cardiologist at the hospital of Timone, in Marseille. At the same time, the number of consultations of hypertensive patients treated with their general practitioner or their cardiologist is clearly increasing, which obviously facilitates the control of hypertension.
… but still poorly followed
Nevertheless, the observance of treatments still seems insufficient since “only 62% of French hypertensive people treated follow their treatment to the end, respect the dosage and never forget to take it“deplores the CFLHTA in a press release.”High blood pressure is a silent disease. In 20 years, deaths from cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) have been divided by 4 in France thanks to treatment for high blood pressure. Hypertensives should therefore not be afraid of prescribed drugs because they are life extenders.“underlines Doctor Bernard Vaïsse. Faced with the follow-up of the treatment, the women over 55 years would be better pupils than the men of the same age since they are 67% to be perfectly observant, against 57% of the men. wisdom is acquired with age, taking regular treatment is no exception to this rule, because 65% of 65-79 year-olds are observant against only 57% of 55-64 year-olds.
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