To determine the prevalence of obesity in the hypertensive population and how excess weight affects its management.
A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in hypertensive patients in Primary Care in Spain. A total of 2,850 doctors, who selected the patients through consecutive sampling, participated. Inclusion criteria were patients of either sex, aged 18 years or older, receiving treatment for hypertension and who gave their consent to participate in the study.
The following variables were analyzed: weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), associated risk factors, physical activity, target organ damage and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD).
A total sample of 10,520 hypertensive patients (53.9%women) with mean age of 64.6 (SD: 11.2) years was analyzed. Prevalence of obesity according to BMI was 36.9%(35%in men and 40.3%in women), with abdominal obesity in 56.4%(40.5%in men and 71.6%in women). In the obese hypertensive patients, BP control was achieved in 33.2%. Prevalence of refractory hypertension was 49.2%.
Combined therapy was used in 47.8%of patients with normal weight, in 53.9%of the overweight and in 64.2%of the obese patients. Prevalence of associated risk factors, target organ involvement and cardiovascular disease was more frequent in the obese than in those with normal weight.
Prevalence of obesity in the hypertensive population is high and is a determining factor for poorer control and increased risk and use of drugs.