[Process indicators and result indicators in the control of arterial hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To find whether better compliance with the indicators of procedure of a hypertension monitoring programme guarantees better control in the final blood pressure figures.


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Gòtic Area Health Centre, Barcelona.


METHODS
Annual audit through random sampling of the computerised records of all the hypertense patients attended at the centre in each of 5 years (1992, n = 337; 1993, n = 318; 1994, n = 322; 1995, n = 325; 1996, n = 325).


RESULTS
1. Procedure indicators: complete physical examination took place in 1996 in only 12% of cases, proportion similar to at the start of the development of the programme (12.2%). Completion of at least two of the three records of protocols (complete physical examination, ECG and analysis) dropped during the period and did not cover half the patients. Screening of the various cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) increased markedly in the 1992-1995 period. 2. RESULTS INDICATORS: The proportion of patients under 66 with SP and DP < 140 and 99 mmHg went up from 23.2% in 1992 to 45.2% in 1996. In the over-65 age-group, it went from 58.9% in 1992 to 81.2% in 1996.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure indicators are still useful, in that they are necessary for designing a new hypertension programme. However, we must not forget that any health programme is designed in order to achieve good control and population impact (survival) results. The procedure is only an aid to reach these aims.
Dalfó Baqué
A
A
adalfob@meditex.es
Sisó Almirall
A
A
Vila Coll
M A
MA
Núñez Vázquez
S
S
Botinas Martí
M
M
Gibert Llorach
E
E
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010808:Physical Examination
Indicadores de proceso e indicadores de resultado en el control de la hipertensión arterial.