Treatment situation of hypertensive patients in Finnish primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To highlight the present situation in hypertension control in Finnish primary healthcare.


METHODS
All health centre doctors from 30 primary health centres were asked to record every consulting patient, pick up hypertensives and evaluate their blood pressure (BP) level, drug treatment, side effects and symptoms related to drug treatment, and compliance during 2 weeks in May 1995.


RESULTS
In all, 337 doctors from the 30 health centres participated in the study. They recorded altogether 4405 hypertensive patients, of which 1209 men (83%) and 2311 women (87%) had drug treatment for hypertension. Of all the drug-treated hypertensive men and women, 33% and 37%, respectively were obese (BMI > or = 30.0 kg/m2). Altogether, 13% of the drug-treated hypertensive men and 10% of women were in good control when BP < 140/90 mmHg was used as the criterion. These proportions doubled when BP < 160/90 mmHg and tripled when BP < 160/95 mmHg were applied as criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of drug-treated hypertensives under poor control is still high in Finland. Only a quarter of treated hypertensive patients are in good control when the criterion BP < 160/90 mmHg is applied.
Kumpusalo
E
E
Kuopio University, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Finland.
Pärnänen
H
H
Takala
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents