Pharmacological control of diabetes and hypertension comorbidity in the elderly: A study of "real world" data.

AIMS: The study aimed to determine which drug combinations achieve better control in comorbid diabetes and hypertension in a pragmatic sample of primary health care patients.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: 251 primary health care centres in Catalonia, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS: individuals ≥65 years old with a dual diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: good control criteria were established as glycated haemoglobin ≤7% and blood pressure <140/90mmHg. Antihypertensive and hypoglycaemic drugs and treatment adherence were analysed in relation to their association with good control.

RESULTS: 27,637 patients (58.0% women) had hypertension and diabetes and met selection criteria. Mean age was 75.9 years (standard deviation [SD]: 6.7). Both diseases were well controlled simultaneously in 34.2% of patients. The combination of biguanides and diuretics achieved the highest association with good control. Adherence to pharmacological treatment was more difficult in diabetes than in hypertension. Lack of control was associated significantly with non-adherence to treatment, 0-12 PHC visits, obesity and increasing number of diabetes prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Good control of diabetes and hypertension comorbidity with pharmacological treatment in elderly patients is challenging. Some drug combinations achieved better control than others. The greatest effort should focus on improving the low adherence to diabetes treatment.