Assessment and Management of Patients with Obesity and Hypertension in European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centres. A survey from the ESH Working Group on Diabetes and Metabolic Risk Factors.

Abstract

Background

Healthcare providers are faced with an increasing number of patients with obesity and arterial hypertension. Preventing obesity-associated hypertension and appropriately managing patients with established disease are both important. Hence, the aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical care of patients with obesity and hypertension among ESH Excellence Centres (ECs).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, international 30-item survey through e-mails.

Results

In total, 70 representatives of ECs participated (78% men) with 66% of them practicing medicine for more than 30 years and working in well-equipped clinics. Most were internists (41%) and cardiologists (37%) and 73% reported training on the management of obese patients with hypertension. A majority weigh their patients (77%) and evaluate patients for sleep disorders (93%). However, only 47% spend more than 5min to advise for lifestyle modification in general, 59% for weight loss, 56% for salt intake and 64% for exercise. Finally, a minority of participants ask patients if they like their body (6%) or about previous attempts to lose weight (28%), evaluate 24h urinary sodium excretion rate (22%) and provide written (15%) or personalized (10%) dietary advices. If the patient suffers also from type 2 diabetes mellitus, 66% switch treatment to GLP1 receptor agonists and 60% to SGLT2 inhibitors.

Conclusion

Most clinicians in ESH ECs are well educated regarding obesity-associated hypertension, and clinics are sufficiently equipped to manage these patients, as well. However, several deficits were reported regarding efforts to address and implement obesity specific aspects and interventions to improve care in patients with obesity and hypertension.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

• Hypertension and obesity still remain two of the main cardiovascular risk factors worldwide.

• There is a need to lower the incidence of obesity-induced hypertension, and to focus on practical guidelines for the evaluation and management of patients with obesity and hypertension.

• This is a web-based survey to understand the current clinical practices in assessing/managing patients with obesity and hypertension in ESH Excellence Centres.

• Most clinicians in ESH ECs are well educated regarding obesity-associated hypertension.

• Clinics are sufficiently equipped to manage these patients.

• Several deficits were reported regarding efforts to address and implement obesity specific aspects and interventions to improve care in patients with obesity and hypertension.

Keywords:

• assessment
• ESH Excellence Centres
• hypertension
• management
• obesity
• survey

Acknowledgement

We are grateful for the invaluable help of Mandy Elgner, ESH Council Coordinator, with the setup and performance of the survey.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data deposition

Available for reasonable research questions, if asked.

Data availability statement

None

Additional information

Funding

None