Therapeutic Inertia in arterial Hypertension: Study Among Primary Care Physicians

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Published Mar 30, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i4.4993
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Vol. 103 No. 4 (2025): Tunis Med Apr 2025

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Saoussen Antit
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Olfa Ferchichi
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Khouloud Khairallah
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Khalil Bahri
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Sabrine Bousnina
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Elhem Boussabeh
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Lilia Zakhama
Department of Cardiology, Interior security forces hospital, La Marsa. Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia

Abstract

Background: Therapeutic inertia is a major cause of uncontrolled hypertension.


The aim of our work study is to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians in the management of hypertension and to describe the factors of therapeutic inertia.


Methods: This was a descriptive study among primary care physicians conducted through an online questionnaire created using Google Forms during the period from March 15 to May 15, 2022.


Results: Our population included 232 physicians with an average age of 39 years. They mainly worked in the public sector (83%). Only 24% of the physicians knew the diagnostic thresholds for hypertension using all methods. Fifty percent knew the therapeutic objectives. Initiation with monotherapy was chosen by 49% of physicians. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers were chosen by 79.3% and 60.8% of physicians, respectively. The main reasons for therapeutic inertia were cost (78.4%), drug shortage (72.8%), non-adherence to therapy (61.2%), follow-up by another specialist (46.5%), fear of side effects of antihypertensive drugs (48.7%), patient's age (40.5%), lack of organization of patient follow-up (36.6%), and the presence of other comorbidities (35%). Renal failure was the main comorbidity involved (78.4%).


Conclusions: Our study concludes that there was a lack of knowledge and application of the new recommendations for hypertension. It would be necessary to promote continuous training of primary care physicians, to insist on therapeutic education of patients, to reform the public health system in Tunisia to cover the provisions of hypertensive patients, and to introduce combination therapy.


 

Keywords:

Hypertension, Treatment, Therapeutic control, Therapeutic Inertia, Recommandations

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