Hypertension management algorithm for type 2 diabetic patients applied in primary care

Background: Hypertension frequently coexists with type 2 diabetes (DM), and increases the risk of cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of the study was to obtain/maintain blood pressure (BP) goals (ADA/JNC 7) according to a stepwise algorithm using the medication supplied by the Brazilian government. Methods: A one-year, single-arm interventional study conducted with type 2 diabetes patients. Intervention consisted of intensification of lifestyle changes and sequential prescription of drugs: diuretic; ACE inhibitors; beta-adrenergic blocking agent and calcium channel blocking agent if BP >130/80 mmHg. Results: Seventy-eight patients completed the trial. During intervention, the number of antihypertensive tablets rose (3.6 +/- 3.5 vs. 5.9 +/- 3.5 pills/patient; p < 0.001), as the number of antihypertensive classes increased (1.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 2.70 +/- 1.2; p < 0.01) and the overall drop of BP was 11 mmHg for SBP (145.0 +/- 22.8 vs. 133.7 +/- 20.9 mmHg; p < 0.01) and 5 mmHg for DBP (78.7 +/- 11.5 vs. 73.7 +/- 10.5 mmHg; p = 0.001). Although the number of patients with BP in target almost doubled [14 (18.7%) vs. 30 (38.5%) p = 0.008], less than 40% of the patients achieved the proposed goals. Conclusions: A BP algorithm applied to type 2 diabetic and hypertensive patients is able to lower BP, however more than half of the patients did not achieve the ADA/JNC 7 targets demonstrating the complexity of BP control in this population. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06260