Time to Initiation of Antihypertensive Therapy After Onset of Elevated Blood Pressure in Patients With Primary Proteinuric Kidney Disease.

Rationale & Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in patients with proteinuric kidney disease and evaluate blood pressure (BP) control.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting & Participants: Data from adults and children with proteinuric kidney disease enrolled in the multicenter Kidney Research Network Registry were used for this study.

Exposure: Proteinuric kidney disease.

Outcomes: Hypertension and BP control.

Analytical Approach: Patients with white-coat hypertension were excluded. Patients were censored at end-stage kidney disease onset. Patients were defined as hypertensive either by hypertension diagnosis code, having 2 or more encounters with elevated BPs, or treatment with antihypertensive therapy excluding renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade. Elevated BP was defined as greater than 95th percentile for children and >140/90 mm Hg in adults. Sustained BP control was defined as 2 or more consecutive encounters with BPs lower than 95th percentile for children and <140/90 mm Hg for adults. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate the time to initiation of antihypertensive therapy.

Results: 842 patients, 69% adults and 31% children, with a total observation period of 6,722 patient-years were included in the analysis. 644 (76%) had hypertension during observation. There was no difference in the prevalence of hypertension between children and adults (74% vs 78%;  = 0.3). Hypertension was most common among those of African American race compared with other races (90% vs 72%-75%;  = 0.003). 504 (78%) patients with hypertension achieved BP control but only 51% achieved control within 1 year. 140 (22%) patients with hypertension never achieved BP control during a median of 41 (IQR, 24-73) months of observation.

Limitations: Differing BP control goals that may lead to overestimation of the controlled patient population.

Conclusions: Hypertension affects most patients with proteinuric kidney disease regardless of age. Time to BP control exceeded 1 year in 50% of patients with hypertension and 22% did not demonstrate control. This study highlights the need to address hypertension early and completely in disease management of patients with proteinuric kidney disease.