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Patients with Hypertension at Risk Due to Physician Inertia

Oslo, June 21, 2010 (ots/PRNewswire)

Data announced for the first time
at ESH suggest that patients with hypertension are at increased
cardiovascular risk due to clinician inertia, because physicians are
failing to treat targets set by accepted ESH-ESC (European Society of
Hypertension and European Society of Cardiology) guidelines for the
management of arterial hypertension and do not act soon enough to
reduce blood pressure (BP).[1]
The findings from the Supporting Hypertension Awareness and
Research Europe-wide (SHARE) survey, which sought the views of 2629
physicians from primary and secondary care across Europe, were
presented at the 20th Annual Meeting of the European Society of
Hypertension (ESH), Oslo.
According to SHARE, three quarters of physicians (76%) believe
that ESH-ESC guideline BP targets of 140/90 mmHg are 'about right'[2]
and 5% say that they are 'not tight enough'.[3]
Despite this, SHARE showed that 29% of physicians, were satisfied
with systolic blood pressure being above the ESH-ESC target of <140
mmHg and 15% were satisfied with diastolic blood pressure above
target (<90 mmHg). Furthermore, while average blood pressure levels
that would cause concern were significantly higher than guideline
targets (149/92 mmHg), levels have to rise even further before
physicians feel compelled to act (168/100 mmHg).
SHARE reports that 77% of all physicians found it challenging to
get patients to ESH-ESC Guidelines, although this represents more
office-based (82%) than hospital-based physicians (63%).[4]
In fact, European physicians thought that on average 47% of their
patients were not attaining recommended ESH-ESC BP targets, but they
estimated that only 34% were 'Challenging Patients', defined by the
SHARE investigators as any patient not reaching goal blood pressure
with a minimum target of 140/90 mmHg. This suggests either that 13%
of patients who are not reaching target are not being treated
aggressively enough or that the number of 'Challenging Patients' is
underestimated by physicians.[5]
"The risks associated with elevated blood pressure are well
documented and any patient with a blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg
requires persistent therapy review to achieve target and reduce their
cardiovascular risk. By underestimating the number of these
'Challenging Patients', physicians are also failing to recognize the
true extent of the economic and health burden associated with this
group," warns Prof Josep Redon, Professor of Medicine, Head of
Internal Medicine and Coordinator of the Hypertension Unit, Hospital
Clinico, University of Valencia, and SHARE Programme co-chair.
In Europe, the levels of blood pressure control among treated
hypertensive patients ranges from approximately 30-50%.[6]
Hypertension remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity,
and the third largest cause of disability worldwide.[7] 7.6 million
people died prematurely in 2001 alone[8] and almost one fifth of all
disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in Europe are attributed to
the long-term effects of hypertension.[8] In addition to the human
cost, uncontrolled hypertension creates a huge economic burden; the
annual cardiovascular health bill is in excess of EUR190 billion.[9]
Background to SHARE
The SHARE survey responded to a White Paper published in the
Journal of Hypertension,[10] identifying a number of challenges that
prohibit hypertensive patients from achieving blood pressure goal.
The White Paper also made recommendations around raising awareness of
the dangers of uncontrolled hypertension and simplifying treatment.
The SHARE Steering Committee developed a 45 question survey and
sought the views of 2629 physicians in primary and secondary care
treating patients with hypertension. Its aim is for greater
understanding of the local day-to-day challenges that physicians face
in getting their patients to blood pressure goal, in order to develop
simple and effective solutions, and share best practice and practical
solutions via the SHARE Standalone Meeting series.
For the first time, the SHARE Steering Committee have coined the
term 'Challenging Patient' for any patient not reaching their goal
blood pressure, with a minimum target of 140/90 mmHg, to highlight a
significant yet often unrecognized group. The 'Challenging Patient'
is at greater cardiovascular risk and a greater resource burden than
those whose blood pressure is controlled.[11]
About DAIICHI SANKYO
DAIICHI SANKYO is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses on
researching and marketing innovative medications. The company was
created in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japanese
enterprises, Daiichi and Sankyo. With net sales of nearly 7.3 billion
EUR in fiscal year 2009 (as of March 31st), DAIICHI SANKYO is one of
the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. The company's world
headquarters is in Tokyo, its European base is located in Munich.
DAIICHI SANKYO has affiliates in 12 European countries and has been
one of the strongest Japanese pharmaceutical companies located in
Europe since it set up European production facilities and marketing
offices in 1990. The company's research activities focus on the areas
of cardiovascular diseases, hematology, anti-infectives and cancer.
Its aim is to develop medications that are "best" in their class or
to create new classes of pharmaceutical drugs.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and
information about future developments in the sector, and the legal
and business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH. Such
forward-looking statements are uncertain and are subject at all times
to the risks of change, particularly to the usual risks faced by a
global pharmaceutical company, including the impact of the prices for
products and raw materials, medication safety, changes in exchange
rates, government regulations, employee relations, taxes, political
instability and terrorism as well as the results of independent
demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of the
company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release
hold true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any
guarantee of future performance. Actual events and developments could
differ materially from the forward-looking statements that are
explicitly expressed or implied in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO
EUROPE GmbH assumes no responsibility for the updating of such
forward-looking statements about future developments of the sector,
legal and business conditions and the company.
References
[1] Mancia G, de Backer G, Dominiczak A, et al. 2007 guidelines
for the management of arterial hypertension. J Hypertens 2007; 25:
1105-1187
[2] Laurent S, Schmieder R, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: physician perception
and use of the ESH-ESC treatment guidelines (SHARE survey Poster
presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.
[3] Data on file [SHARE charts for all question presentation,
question 43 p162
[4] Laurent S, Schmieder R, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: physician perception
and use of the ESH-ESC treatment guidelines (SHARE survey). Poster
presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.
[5] Kreutz R, Ferri C, Koch W, et al. Investigating the critical
situation in hypertension management: disparities between the
perception and reality of the burden of `Challenging Patients' (SHARE
survey). Poster presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.
[6] Kearney PM, Whelton M, Reynolds K, et al. Worldwide
prevalence of hypertension: a systematic review. J Hypertens
2004;22:11-19
[7] Ezzati M, Lopez AD, Rodgers A, et al. Selected major risk
factors and global and regional burden of disease. Lancet
2002;360:1347-1360
[8] Lawes CM, Vander Hoorn S, Rodgers A. Global burden of
blood-pressure-related disease, 2001.Lancet 2008;371(9623):1513-8.
[9] Allender S, Scarborough P, Peto V, et al. European Heart
Network (2008) European cardiovascular disease statistics 2008.
Brussels. European Heart Network
[10] Redon J, Brunner HR, Ferri C, et al. Practical solutions to
the challenges of uncontrolled hypertension: a white paper. J
Hypertens 2008;26(12):S1-S14
[11] Kreutz R, Ferri C, Koch W, et al. Investigating the critical
situation in hypertension management: disparities between the
perception and reality of the burden of `Challenging Patients' (SHARE
survey). Poster presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.

Contact:

CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT: Corporate Communications & Public Affairs,
Dr.Michaela Paudler-Debus, Vice Director/ Head of Product PR Europe,
Phone+49(0)89/78-08-685, michaela.paudler-debus@daiichi-sankyo.eu;
Medical &Scientific Affairs, Joris Versteden, Vice Director Medical
and ScientificAffairs, Phone +49(0)89/78-08-497,
joris.versteden@daiichi-sankyo.eu

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