Assessing the dual challenge of hypertension and dyslipidemia comorbidity: a real-world need gap analysis on diagnosis, management, drug therapy and patient related factors

Background: Hypertension and dyslipidemia frequently coexist and significantly elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through shared mechanisms. Despite clear evidence supporting integrated management, real-world gaps persist in diagnosis, monitoring, and patient adherence. Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among 842 healthcare professionals (HCPs) across India to evaluate current clinical practices, challenges, and educational needs in managing this dual comorbidity. A structured 20-item questionnaire captured insights on comorbidity prevalence, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic practices, and barriers to optimal care. Results: The survey revealed substantial coexistence of hypertension and dyslipidemia, with 40.2% of HCPs reporting dyslipidemia in 10-20% of hypertensive patients and 38.8% observing hypertension in 20-30% of dyslipidemic cases. Comorbidity was most prevalent in adults aged 45-60 years (51.9%). Lifestyle factors were the leading contributors (38.3%), followed by age-related factors (25.4%). Despite routine lipid panel use, early diagnosis was hindered by poor follow-up (24.6%), asymptomatic presentation (23.3%), and inadequate screening guidelines (23.0%). Poor patient adherence was identified as the major treatment challenge (54.7%), while guideline sufficiency was divided, with 45.5% rating them adequate and a similar proportion finding them only somewhat sufficient. Conclusions: Overall, the findings highlight substantial unmet needs in the real-world management of hypertension with dyslipidemia. Strengthened patient education, structured lifestyle support programs, regular lipid testing, and enhanced clinician training may improve early detection and long-term outcomes. A more unified, patient-centered approach is essential to reducing the growing cardiometabolic burden in India.