Blood pressure characteristics of hypertensive patients in Austria as determined by self-monitoring (SCREEN-II).

This is the first large-scale, countrywide study evaluating blood pressure levels in treated hypertensive patients based on home blood pressure monitoring. The study was conducted all over Austria by 166 physicians enrolling a total of 1303 patients each taking at least 30 home blood pressure readings (a total of 39,000 readings). Stratification of patients into groups with normotension, mild hypertension or severe hypertension followed the recommendations of the Austrian Hypertension League (normotension defined as no more than seven readings higher than 135/85 mmHg, according to a blood pressure load of no more than 25%). The data collected show that these patients are inadequately treated, with only 17% being normotensive. Treatment results are no better than in patients with blood pressure measured in an office setting: the number of those achieving normotension is 17% vs 16%, although the self-measuring patients obviously receive better treatment with more patients being prescribed combination therapy.