Qualitative insights into the experiences and goals of people living with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension in Australia
摘要
Over one-third of Australian adults have hypertension, and this rate increases with age. Difficult-to-treat hypertension is high blood pressure that remains above target levels despite proper medicine adherence. This study explored the treatment experiences and goals of patients with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension to gain insights into renal denervation (RDN) as a therapeutic option.
MethodsTwelve Australian participants with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension were interviewed. Participants were recruited via a specialist recruitment company and specialist referral. Semi-structured interviews lasted about 60 min either online or by phone. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis in NVivo.
ResultsParticipants had an average age of 65 years (range: 48–75 years), 58% identified as male and all lived across Australia, primarily in metropolitan areas (n = 9; 75%). The average time since hypertension diagnosis was 22 years (range: 3–44 years) and nearly all participants had a family history of hypertension. Data analysis identified four themes regarding participants’ experiences of living with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension and awareness of renal denervation therapy: (1) Diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension, (2) The impact of severe difficult-to-treat hypertension on quality of life, (3) The management of severe difficult-to-treat hypertension and (4) Awareness, perceptions and experiences with RDN.
ConclusionsThis study provides an in-depth understanding of the experiences of people living with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension and their treatment goals. It highlights the significant impact and stigma of living with severe difficult-to-treat hypertension, and the need to incorporate psychosocial support and patient education into the clinical management of this chronic condition.