[OP.4A.10] MODERATION OF ALCOHOL INTAKE AS A RECOMMENDED LIFESTYLE CHANGE IN HYPERTENSION: AWARENESS AND USE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE AMONG EUROPEAN PHYSICIANS. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kreutz, R.; Touis, L. Zaidi; Bolbrinker, J.; Gohlke, H.; Weisser, B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 35(2017)Supplement 2
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000523073.57461.c2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Moderation of alcohol consumption is one of the six lifestyle changes recommended in the 2013 ESH/ESC hypertension guidelines for the treatment of hypertensive patientswith class I evidence level A. Thus, the guidelines recommend a maximum alcohol consumption of 20–30 g/day in hypertensive men and 10–20 g/day in hypertensive women. Within a survey assessing the level of awareness and implementation of the 2013 ESH/ESC guideline recommendations on lifestyle changes we specifically investigated the role of alcohol consumption in the management of hypertensive patients among European physicians. Design and method: The complete survey included a total of 16 questions covering demographic data and questions that aimed to assess the level of awareness and implementation of the 2013 guideline recommendations. It included six questions explicitly related to medical history of alcohol consumption, advice on alcohol intake and/ or management of hypertensive patients with alcohol consumption. The survey was conducted at two national meetings in Germany (2015 annual meetings of the German Society of Cardiology and the German Society of Internal Medicine) and at two European meetings (ESH meeting in Milan 2015 and ESC meeting in London 2015). Results: Overall, 1064 participated. Overall, 81.9% of participating physicians reported to quantify alcohol consumption in their hypertensive patients. The medical history of alcohol consumption was taken mostly in the context of newly detected hypertension (28.6%), rather than in patients with hypertension and very high blood pressure (BP) (17.5%) or in patients with treatment resistant hypertension (14.5%). Physicians recommend a mean maximum amount of alcohol intake of 13.1 ± 11.7 g/day for women (range: 0–150) and 19.7 ± 14.9 g/day for men (range: 0–125). Conclusions: Although more than 80% of participating physicians reported to quantify alcohol consumption in their hypertensive patients, less than a third of physicians acknowledged to determine a history on alcohol intake in case of newly detected hypertension, very high BP or treatment resistant BP. The mean maximum amount of alcohol per day recommended did not exceed the recommended guidelines threshold. Awareness campaigns emphasizing the relationship between alcohol consumption and high BP, e.g. in patients with resistant hypertension, might improve currently unsatisfactory BP control rates.