Treatment priorities and current prescribing patterns in hypertension: results of GRASP, an international physician survey

The GRASP (Global Research on Attitudes about hypertension and Stroke Prevention) survey, conducted in 11 countries and involving 825 physicians, was designed to investigate physician perceptions and priorities in the treatment of hypertension and influences on choice of antihypertensive therapy. The prevention of stroke was identified as a major priority in this survey, but there appeared to be some degree of mismatch between the evidence from large controlled trials and current patterns of prescribing for stroke prevention. The results of GRASP confirm the desirability of research to identify methods and strategies that will facilitate the integration of clinical trial results into general practice treatment of hypertension.