Awareness and pharmacotherapy of hypertension in a rural community

Objective: To determine the level of awareness of hypertension and pharmacological management in patients from a rural community of Australia. Subjects and Methods: A total of 665 patients were studied. Thepatients were recruited from Albury-Wodonga and surrounding districts, which are located in a rural area of south-eastern Australia. Demographic information and medical history were recorded for all patients. Clinical data were also recorded. Results: Of the 665 patients, 449 (75%) were hypertensive, and of these 449 hypertensive patients, 195 (43.4%) were aware that they had hypertension. Blood pressure was inadequately controlled in 399 of the hypertensive patients (88.9%) according to the management guidelines of the National Heart Foundation of Australia. Of all the patients who had hypertension, 247 (55.0%) were not receiving antihypertensive therapy. Of those receiving therapy, 132 (65.3%) were being administered only one antihypertensive (monotherapy). The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive classes were angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, diuretics, β-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Conclusion: The level of awareness of hypertension and its management appeared to be poor in hypertensive patients living in this rural Australian community. Actual hypertension control was extremely poor, and a major potential cause of this may be the poor use of anti-hypertensive medications in these patients. Strategies to improve the awareness of hypertension and its required management in patients residing in rural communities are recommended.