Blood pressure control and antihypertensive treatment in Swiss general practice: a cross-sectional study using routine data

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Arterial hypertension is a major global health risk. Global surveys indicate that only half of patients with arterial hypertension receive pharmacotherapy, and only a quarter achieve the primary blood pressure target recommended by guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate the achievement of the primary blood pressure target in Swiss general practice, provide insights into arterial hypertension treatment, and identify factors associated with achieving this goal. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilised data from a large Swiss primary care database. Patients with arterial hypertension, aged ≥18 years, who underwent blood pressure monitoring in 2021 were included. The primary observation was blood pressure control, defined as the achievement of the primary blood pressure target of systolic blood pressure