Treatment of hypertension in Finnish general practice seems unsatisfactory despite evidence-based guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to clarify whether treatment of hypertension and concomitant risk factors in Finland has improved after the introduction of national evidence-based guidelines for antihypertensive treatment in 2002. Changes in the other cardiovascular risk factors of the Finnish hypertensive patients were also assessed.


METHODS
Nationwide questionnaire survey of consecutive hypertensive patients having met by general practitioners during a given week in autumn 2006.


METHODS
Finnish general practice offices in primary care.


METHODS
Data from 715 hypertensive patients, 358 men and 357 women, from 72 general practice offices.


METHODS
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum lipids, smoking status and information about other risk factors.


RESULTS
The mean blood pressure of the patients was 147/88 mmHg. Eighty-one men (23%) and 85 women (24%) reached the treatment goal of 140/85 mmHg or less. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level below 2.5 mmol/l was reached by 104 (29%) men and 104 (29%) women. Only 13% of the hypertensive patients (16.8% of the men and 9.2% of the women) were active smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Roughly three-quarters of hypertensive patients still failed to reach the blood pressure target of 140/85 mmHg recommended by the current Finnish Hypertension Guidelines. Our results are disappointing, considering the homogenous Finnish population and thorough primary healthcare system. Although the mean serum cholesterol concentration of the hypertensive population exceeded target values set by the guidelines, a clear improvement compared with early 21st century is seen. Also smoking has diminished considerably.
Varis
Juha
J
Department of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. juha.varis@tyks.fi
Savola
Heljä
H
Vesalainen
Risto
R
Kantola
Ilkka
I
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL