Hypertension treatment intensification among stroke survivors with uncontrolled blood pressure.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: We examined blood pressure 1 year after stroke discharge and its association with treatment intensification.We examined the systolic blood pressure (SBP) stratified by discharge SBP (?140, 141-160, or >160 mm Hg) among a national cohort of Veterans discharged after acute ischemic stroke. Hypertension treatment opportunities were defined as outpatient SBP >160 mm Hg or repeated SBPs >140 mm Hg. Treatment intensification was defined as the proportion of treatment opportunities with antihypertensive changes (range, 0%-100%, where 100% indicates that each elevated SBP always resulted in medication change).Among 3153 patients with ischemic stroke, 38% had ?1 elevated outpatient SBP eligible for treatment intensification in the 1 year after stroke. Thirty percent of patients had a discharge SBP ?140 mm Hg, and an average 1.93 treatment opportunities and treatment intensification occurred in 58% of eligible visits. Forty-seven percent of patients discharged with SBP 141 to160 mm Hg had an average of 2.1 opportunities for intensification and treatment intensification occurred in 60% of visits. Sixty-three percent of the patients discharged with an SBP >160 mm Hg had an average of 2.4 intensification opportunities, and treatment intensification occurred in 65% of visits.Patients with discharge SBP >160 mm Hg had numerous opportunities to improve hypertension control. Secondary stroke prevention efforts should focus on initiation and review of antihypertensives before acute stroke discharge; management of antihypertensives and titration; and patient medication adherence counseling.
SUBMITTER: Roumie CL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4308422 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
ACCESS DATA