[Indicators of follow-up activities undertaken by an arterial hypertension unit over a 5 year period].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and effectiveness of an AHT programme by means of indicators which analyse the coverage, results and attendance.


METHODS
AHT unit at the Health Centre in Novelda, Alicante.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design of internal comparison with temporal series. The years analysed were 1985, '87, '88 and '90. The following were assessed: support, therapeutic compliance, risk level, weight, monitoring, visits per year, therapy, risk factors.


METHODS
A cohort of 266 hypertense patients (175 women and 91 men).


RESULTS
The Unit significantly increased the number of patients being monitored and treated (WHO 46.7% and JNC 9.1%), but never exceeded 60%. Serious risk was eliminated and moderate risk went down (27.7%). Visits to the Centre were reduced by 2.8 per year. Of risk factors, weight did not go down, but hypercholesterolaemia diminished by 48.4%, hypertriglyceridaemia by 9.8%, hyperglycaemia by 4.4%, hyperuricaemia by 7.9% and tobacco addiction by 19.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
These figures contain extremely interesting information. They reveal the achievements and difficulties of clinical practice and point to practical strategies.
Gil
V
V
Departamento de Medicina de la Universidad de Alicante, Unidad de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Alicante.
Pomares
R
R
Pomares
A
A
Alberola
T
T
Belda
J
J
Merino
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D013997:Time Factors