Introduction:

Arterial hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. The characteristics of its treatment in the population at a local level are relatively unknown.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on the prescribing of antihypertensive drugs, the efficacy of the treatment, as well as the clinical inertia in patients seen in the year 2014. The efficacy was established according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee, and clinical inertia was defined as lack of modifications to achieve the therapeutic aim. Sociodemographic and pharmacological variables were included in the logistical regression models.

Results:

Out of a total sample of 4,195 patients, a randomised sample of 309 patients was obtained, of which 54.7% were women, and 52.8% were over 60 years of age. The antihypertensive drugs most used were losartan and hydrochlorothiazide (20.8% each). Blood pressure control was observed in 75.3% of a total of 675 clinical visits, and of the 167 visits where the blood pressure was not controlled, there was evidence of clinical inertia in 47.9%. To have a concomitant antidiabetic drug prescribed was associated with a lower possibility of there being clinical inertia (P=.032; OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.051-0.879).

Conclusion:

The proportion of patients that do not achieve the targets of blood pressure control, as well as the frequency of clinical inertia, are lower than those found in other patient series.

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