ANTIHYPERTENSIVE ADEQUACY THERAPY ACCORDING TO THEIR CONTRAINDICATIONS: CLINICAL PRACTICE IN A PRIMARY CARE

Background and Aim: Hypertension is the more prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in the Portuguese population, with prevalence of 42.2%. There are multiple classes of drugs available for hypertension treatment. The patient’s profile and the contraindications of the drug are crucial aspects that must be taken into account in treatment choice. The aim of this study was to explore the inadequate antihypertensive therapy of patients, considering the existence of contraindications. Method: A cross-sectional observational study has been conducted to assess a random sample of patients aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of hypertension. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis by crossing variables in Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 474 hypertensive patients with an age >18 years were assessed. Considering the contraindications of hypertension therapy, it was found that 12% (n = 57) and 2.5% (n = 12) had relative and absolute contraindications, respectively, for the treatment in progress. Conclusion: The absence of similar work does not permit us to compare the results obtained. However, this study concludes that there are patients taking antihypertensive drugs for which have contraindications, including women of childbearing age, asthma, gout and metabolic syndrome. This finding allows us to rethink the clinical decisions for improved care.