OBJECTIVES

: There are limited data on the management of hypertension in Algeria. The absence of local guidelines might contribute to variations in diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension between physicians. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) is a useful way of guiding therapeutic and clinical decisions. We aimed to review the use of ABPM in the management of hypertension in Algeria.

METHODS

: Prospective, observational, multicenter study, designed to include 1000 patients has been initiated in June 2017. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with suspected (SH) or treated hypertension (TH) were included. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg. ABPM 24-hour was performed at the inclusion (V1) in all patients. Therapeutic decision was taken according to ABPM results at V2. Treated Patients are then followed up to 6 weeks (V3).

RESULTS

: This interim analysis included 550 patients. They were mostly aged 30-60 years (69.5%) and females (59.1 %). They were 64.4% with SH (60.7% females) and 35.6% with TH (56.1% females) since 6 years in average. Origin of hypertension was mainly essential in both groups: 85.9% in TH and 72.4% in SH. Results of ABPM were valid in 97.2% of cases. Hypertension was confirmed in 63.1% of SH patients and uncontrolled in 52.4% of TH patients, leading to an initiation of antihypertensive therapy in 86.1% of SH patients and an adaptation or a switch therapy in 72.4% of TH patients. In both groups treatment was mainly based on a monotherapy regimen in 38.9% of TH patients with Angiotensin-converting enzyme (28.4%) and in 71.8% of SH patients with Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (39.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

: Our preliminary results showed that frequency of hypertension remained higher. ABPM remains a highly valuable method in diagnosing hypertension and in guiding antihypertensive therapy.