Assessment of Blood Pressure Control Among Hypertensive Patients Attending Primary Healthcare Settings in Qatar: A Retrospective Chart Review.

AIM: Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) poses a significant threat to public health, contributing to increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.The study objectives were to assess BP control among hypertensive patients attending primary care centers in Qatar and to explore the association between patient-specific factors and BP control.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review from 2017 to 2020 was conducted across Qatar primary care centers. A sample size of 400 patients per year was chosen to be able to estimate the yearly proportion of patients achieving BP control (the primary outcome) to within a margin of error of at most 5% using 95% confidence interval. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between patient variables and BP control.

RESULTS

Among the 2,185 selected patients, over 60% of general hypertensive patients achieved BP control, (n=1226/1859, 66% in 2018), (n=1398/2038, 69% in 2019), and (n=1229/1897, 65% in 2020). More than 60% of diabetics or patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) reached target BP levels (n=882/1309, 67.4% in 2018), (n=1002/1402, 71.5% in 2019), and (n=878/1314, 66.8% in 2020). Gender, nationality (Qatari vs. non-Qatari), and presence of comorbidities like dyslipidemia, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation and CKD were found to significantly impact BP levels.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that over half of hypertensive patients in Qatar's primary care setting achieved controlled BP. Key predictors of BP control included Qatari nationality, dyslipidemia, and CHF. However, due to the inherent limitations of retrospective chart review methodology, these results should be interpreted judiciously. Future prospective studies are crucial to corroborate these predictors and inform the development of tailored strategies to overcome barriers for achieving optimal BP control.