[Factors affecting the follow up of hypertensive patients].
OBJECTIVE
To study the factors affecting lack of continuity in hypertense patients' follow-up care and to define these patients' profile.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Rural health district.


METHODS
Systematic sample of the 1,487 hypertense patients in our health district (n = 642).


METHODS
Patients' socio-demographic variables, characteristics of their AHT, treatment, risk factors and chronic illnesses were taken from the clinical records. The following were noted concerning lapses (defined as periods longer than six months without a blood pressure reading): beginning, end and number of lapses, consultations during a lapse and reasons for the consultation.


RESULTS
56% of the individuals in the sample had lapses. These patients consulted 2.8 times during each lapse, making a total of 1,174 consultations (47.1% acute problems; 23.5% chronic pathologies; 19.8% administrative matters and 7.5% AHT or related ailments). On comparing patients with and without lapses we found that variables with significant differences were: pensioner, education, profession, initial and current pharmacological treatment, smoker, years of the AHT's evolution and doctor. No significant differences were found for age, gender or tension figures. Lapses were less in diabetics and patients with Hypercholesterolaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we defined an approximate profile of the patient with lapses, we found no relationship with tension figures. Both the fact that a high number of patients consult during lapses and the differences between clinics show the co-responsibility of the health factor as a cause of lack of continuity.
Iruela López
T
T
ABS Santa Eugenia de Berga, Unitat Docent de MFiC Centre de l'ICS, Barcelona.
Juncosa Font
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
Factores que influyen en el seguimiento de los pacientes hipertensos.