In response to the Close The Gap survey findings, the World Hypertension League is supporting a call for better awareness of the importance of high blood pressure patients reaching the internationally-recognised goal of 140/90mmHg or lower.

At the moment, around 50-70% of the one billion people with high blood pressure worldwide remain above this goal, leaving them at significant risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, vascular and kidney damage1,2.

Dr Claude Lenfant, President of the World Hypertension League, commented on the survey findings, "Viewed simply, for every 20/10mmHg rise in blood pressure above this level, the risk of death from cardiovascular problems doubles3. International guidelines have set a clear goal - every patient with hypertension needs to have their blood pressure reduced to 140mmHg or below".

The Close The Gap survey, conducted with 1,259 primary care physicians across 17 countries, compared physicians' perceptions against the reality of current hypertension management.

Encouragingly, the findings confirmed that most physicians are aware of the recommended blood pressure goal for hypertension patients (140/90mmHg), and that the vast majority (96%) know treating patients to blood pressure goal significantly reduces their risk of cardiovascular disease4.

However, the survey also showed that over 40% of physicians would be satisfied to reduce patients' blood pressure to an "acceptable level" only, rather than fully to the recommended goal4. Further, surveyed physicians overestimated the proportion of their patients reaching blood pressure goal. Over half believed 70% of their hypertension patients are at their
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Contact: Mia Gannedahl
mgannedahl@gciuk.com
44-207-331-2325
GCI Healthcare
9-May-2006