LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Persons with multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are at greater risk than persons exposed to a single risk factor. Control of specific CVD risk factors in Poland is rather poor. Effective control of comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia seems especially challenging. OBJECTIVES To assess the control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in participants with comorbid these two CVD risk factors; data from Polish multicenter national health survey WOBASZ II were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS The WOBASZ II study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2013-2014 in 6,170 persons (3,410 women and 2,760 men) from 16 voivodships. RESULTS Age-standardized prevalence of coexisting hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in WOBASZ II sample was 34.6%. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in participants with hypertension was 69.7%. Age-standardized rates of control of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the entire analyzed age range of 19 to 99 years was 24.3%, 11.2%, and 5.4%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models, control of both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia was associated with smoking (OR=0.5 95%CI=0.34-0.76), cardiovascular disease (OR=2.25 95%CI:1.70-2.97), frequent medical visits (OR=1.76 95%CI:1.33-2.32) and high education level (OR=1.37 95%CI:1.03-1.80). CONCLUSIONS Comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were observed in one third of the Polish population (included in WOBASZ II study). Only 5.4% have both risk factors controlled. After adjustment for covariates, female gender, non-smoking, comorbid CVD or diabetes, the frequency of medical visits and high education, appeared to increase the proportion of controlled hypertension or hypercholesterolemia.