Hypertension in Ireland: public awareness and doctors choice of therapy.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is the commonest medical condition in Ireland.


OBJECTIVE
(1) To examine the level of awareness of blood pressure (BP) in the population and (2) to ascertain the opinion of general practitioners (GPs) in diagnosis and management of hypertension.


METHODS
BP measurements and assessment of BP awareness were performed in a sub-sample of the general population (n = 1,071). The opinion of GPs (n = 1,037) on hypertension was determined in a postal survey.


RESULTS
Amongst the population sampled (45 ± 13 years, mean age ± SD), almost half had elevated BP (>140/90 mmHg) but only half of those were already on antihypertensives. 40% had no knowledge of their BP and 54% were not aware of what constituted normal BP. While some 80% of GPs said they followed British guidelines, their practice was more in keeping with the European guidelines. Approximately, 90% of GPs required ambulatory BP recording to confirm diagnosis of hypertension. First choice antihypertensive agents were ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists in younger patients and diuretics and ACE inhibitors in older patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that there is a need for further public education on BP and nationally agreed hypertension guidelines.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
N L
NL
Zaharan
A
A
Mahmud
K
K
Bennett
J
J
Feely
D000328:Adult; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004232:Diuretics