Background. We investigated the association between blood pressure control and common cardiometabolic risk factors from a global and regional perspective. Methods. In the present analysis of a large cross-sectional i-SEARCH study, 17.092 outpatients receiving
antihypertensive treatment were included in 26 countries. According to clinical guidelines for the management of arterial
hypertension, patients were classified based on the level of seated systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP). Uncontrolled
hypertension was defined as SBP/DBP ≥140/90 mmHg for non-diabetics, and ≥130/80 mmHg for diabetics. Results. Overall, mean age was 63.1 years, 52.8% were male, and mean BMI was 28.9 kg/m(2). Mean SBP/DBP was 148.9/87.0 mmHg, and 76.3% of patients had uncontrolled
hypertension. Diabetes was present in 29.1% with mean HbA1c of 6.8%. Mean
LDL-cholesterol was 3.2 mmol/L,
HDL-cholesterol 1.3 mmol/L, and
triglycerides 1.8 mmol/L; 49.0% had
hyperlipidemia. Patients with uncontrolled
hypertension had a higher BMI (29.4 versus 28.6 kg/m(2)),
LDL-cholesterol (3.4 versus 3.0 mmol/L),
triglycerides (1.9 versus 1.7 mmol/L), and HbA1c (6.8 versus 6.7%) than those with controlled blood pressure (P < 0.0001 for all parameters). Conclusions. Among outpatients treated for arterial
hypertension, three quarters had uncontrolled blood pressure. Elevated SBP/DBP and uncontrolled
hypertension were associated with increasing BMI,
LDL-cholesterol,
triglycerides, and HbA1c, both globally and regionally.