P153 NATIONAL SURVEY OF ARGENTINE DOCTORS ON HYPERTENSION

Background and Objective: Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cardiovascular risk factor, yet its control remains low. Identifying factors influencing diagnosis, potential clinical inertia, and the measuring devices used is crucial. Objective: This study aims to understand factors in medical practice affecting HTN knowledge and control, and to assess the availability and use of blood pressure (BP) measurement devices. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study is based on a 25-question self-administered survey by the Argentine Society of Hypertension (SAHA) and the Argentine Society of Medicine (SAM), targeting doctors treating HTN patients in Argentina. This report focuses on BP measurement. Results: A total of 1,042 responses were received, with women comprising 45.8% (n:471). Responses came from 430 cardiologists (41.7%), 380 internists (36.8%), 68 HTN specialists (6.6%), 54 primary care physicians (5.2%), and 100 from other specialties (9.7%). An own validated automatic arm BP monitor was used by 44.5%, a manual aneroid by 36.5%, an institution's validated automatic arm monitor by 10.9%, and a fixed wall aneroid by 8.2%. BP was measured in all patients by 89% of respondents, sometimes by 8.5%, and only if the patient was hypertensive by 1.7%. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was always requested before treatment by 25.2%, sporadically by 34%, never by 4.1%, and only for BP between 130/85 mmHg and 159/99 mmHg by 36.7%. The 24-hour ABPM values for initiating pharmacological treatment were >140/90 mmHg (40.9%), >135/85 mmHg (39%), and >130/80 mmHg (20.1%). Conclusions: Discrepancies exist in HTN patient care. Only 20% of doctors start pharmacological treatment at 24-hour ABPM values above 130/80 mmHg. Enhancing education and information could improve HTN control strategies.