To gain “real life” data on the BP control of hypertensive patients in clinical practice in Thailand, a multi-centre cross-sectional study was carried out. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, and antihypertensive regimens were collected. A total of 1,259 patients were enrolled between October 2003 and December 2003, 924 cases from 6 regions of different levels of health care and 335 cases from 4 medical training centres and a tertiary care hospital in Bangkok. Eighty one percent of the patients, age ranged from 45 to 75 years (61.2 + 11.6). Forty four percent of patients in audit had a BP < 140/90 mm Hg and only 12.3% of DM patients had attained a JNC 7 recommended BP target of 130/80 mm Hg. Hypercholesterolaemia (65.3%) was the most prevalent risk followed by DM (27.7%). Antihypertensive drug used at the initial visit compared with the last visit were ARB (0.9% vs 6.1%), ACE Inhibitors (30.1% vs 40.0%), β-blockers (27.3% vs 46.7%), CCBs (23.2% vs 37.7%), and diuretics (46.0% vs 53.5%). In addition, the numbers of antihypertensive drugs used at the initial visit compared with the last clinic visit were one drug (62.0% vs 33.0%), two drugs (29.7% vs 45.8%), three drugs or more (3.7% vs 20.4%), with an average of 1.3 + 0.6 vs 1.9 + 0.8 drugs per patient. Two thirds of patients (66.2%) were on 2 or more antihypertensive drugs. Among the type 2 DM, 5% had records of microalbuminuria, and 50.6% and 9.8% were receiving ACE Inhibitors and ARBs, respectively at the last clinic visit.

Keywords: Hypertension, Audit