Prolonged time-to-antihypertensive therapy worsens organ damage and blood pressure control in arterial hypertension

Introduction Delay in arterial hypertension (AH) diagnosis and late therapy initiation may affect progression towards hypertensive-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and blood pressure (BP) control. Aim We aimed to assess the impact of time-to-therapy on BP control and HMOD in patients receiving AH diagnosis. Methods We analysed data from the Campania Salute Network, a prospective registry of hypertensive patients (NCT02211365). At baseline visit, time-to-therapy was defined as the interval between the first occurrence of BP values exceeding guidelines-directed thresholds and therapy initiation; HMOD included left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), carotid plaque, or chronic kidney disease. Optimal BP control was considered for average values < 140/90 mmHg. Low-risk profile was defined as grade I AH without additional cardiovascular risk factors. Results From 14,161 hypertensive patients, we selected 1,627 participants who were not on antihypertensive therapy. This population was divided into two groups based on the median time-to-therapy (<= 2 years n = 1,009, > 2 years n = 618). Patients with a time-to-therapy > 2 years had higher risk of HMOD (adjusted odds ratio, aOR:1.51, 95%, CI:1.19-1.93, p < 0.001) due to increased risks of LVH (aOR:1.43, CI:1.12-1.82, p = 0.004), carotid plaques (aOR:1.29, CI:1.00-1.65, p = 0.047), and chronic kidney disease (aOR:1.68, CI:1.08-2.62, p = 0.022). Time-to-therapy > 2 years was significantly associated with uncontrolled BP values (aOR:1.49, CI:1.18-1.88, p < 0.001) and higher number of antihypertensive drugs (aOR:1.68, CI:1.36-2.08, p < 0.001) during follow-up. In low-risk subgroup, time-to-therapy > 2 years did not impact on BP control and number of drugs. Conclusions In hypertensive patients, a time-to-therapy > 2 years is associated with HMOD and uncontrolled BP.