Referrals for vascular hypertension in a group of 45-64-year-old patients.
Two hundred and ten consecutive 45-66-year-old patients underwent a routine eye examination and a decision was made whether to refer each patient on the basis of fundus appearance and other non-sphygmomanometric criteria. Blood pressure was then measured and the referral decision was reviewed. Of the 33 (15.7%) patients finally referred, only 5 (2.4%) would have been referred on the non-sphygmomanometric findings. It is suggested that optometrists include a protocol of blood pressure measurement as part of the eye examination routine.
Barnard
N A
NA
Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University, London, UK.
Allen
R J
RJ
Field
A F
AF
D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009907:Optometry / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom