Marvin Moser, MD, President, Hypertension Education Foundation, Scarsdale, New York, United States, presented results of an on-line questionnaire taken by 1,245 hypertensive patients (45 years of age or older) aimed at providing updated information on the status of blood pressure control in different patient groups.

More than 90% of respondents correctly associated high blood pressure with heart attacks and stroke. There are about two-thirds who correctly associated high blood pressure with kidney failure, atherosclerosis, and an enlarged heart.

The study also found, however, that misconceptions related to hypertension are common. In fact, roughly 12% of all respondents and nearly a quarter of all African-Americans still believe that high blood pressure means that a person is tense or anxious.

Approximately a quarter of respondents incorrectly believed that weight loss is sufficient to reduce blood pressure and that perception tended to be more common in higher socioeconomic groups. More than a quarter of respondents believed that they do not have to do exercise regularly because they are taking medication to control blood pressure and 40% cited a joint condition as the reason for not exercising regularly.

The analysis also revealed that while more than 90% of respondents who had elevated blood pressure were taking medications to treat it, between 28% and 40% did not have their medication changed when blood pressure remained too high. More than one-third of respondents had uncontrolled hypertension the last time their blood pressure was checked.

The survey also found that more than 60% of hypertensive respondents were obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2.

"Overall, the data suggest that awareness of blood pressure and its effects is high and that patients are being treated but that the impact of factors such as obesity and reported provider inertia on achieving optimal blood pressure must be re-emphasized," Dr. Moser said.