title: Visit frequency and hypertension.
abstract: The best return visit interval to achieve blood pressure control is currently unknown. This study investigates the relationship between return visit interval and percent change in blood pressure. We reviewed a cohort of hypertensive patient charts from two large, urban family practice offices. Four hundred twenty-nine patients with 7910 intervals showed a mean return visit interval of 79.5 days. Blood pressure control occurred during 34.5% of office visits. Pearson's r correlation coefficients between return visit interval and percent change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure demonstrated a small but statistically significant correlation. Shorter return visit intervals were associated with better percent changes in blood pressure. The return visit interval may be a simple and useful tool to improve management of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago/Illinois Masonic Family Practice Residency, Chicago, IL 60640, USA. rick.guthmann-md@advocatehealth.com
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guthmann
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elizondo
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014505:Urban Population