[The law of "inverse care" in the detection of arterial hypertension and tobacco addiction].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of the physician, of the demand for care, of the reason for the clinical consultation, of the patient's pathology and of the case's length of time under care, all of these in connection with the assessment by the Primary Care physician or nurse of both arterial tension (AT) and of the tobacco habit (TH) in the general population aged between 20 and 65.


METHODS
Descriptive study of a selection of clinical histories. SITE. Primary Care Centre in Castelldefels (Barcelona).


METHODS
Random sample of 200 clinical histories of people, aged between 20 and 65, who requested treatment.


RESULTS
In 71 histories (36%) there was AT. In 62 (31.5%) TH had been recorded. There was a statistically significant link between both risk factors. Detection was linked to the feminine sex, being older, greater attendance and the presence of disease. Lack of continuity was accompanied by a higher recording of TH. There were considerable disparities, not explicable in terms of the variables studied, among professionals as to their habits in making an on-the-spot investigation. The existence of the sheet of basic data about closed items appears to favour detection.


CONCLUSIONS
If there is a will to use primary Care centres for effective preventive action in the population as a whole, motivation of the professionals involved and organisational changes will be necessary so as not to perpetuate the law of inverse care.
García Conejero
O
O
Area Básica de Salud de Castelldefels, Barcelona.
Gené Badia
J
J
Parellada Esquius
N
N
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
Ley del "cuidado inverso" en la detección de la hipertensión arterial y el tabaquismo.