[The role of patients in the management of hypertension: let's be pragmatic].
The management of hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors, which concerns more than 25 percent of the population, is a challenge in an increasingly sedentary world and today's context of a rising prevalence in obesity. The care-focused paternalistic relationship between physicians and patients should evolve for the new generation of physicians, as well as for patients. The last medical resistance to self-measurement of blood pressure should disappear, and it is necessary to meet the rising expectations of patients in terms of information. The failure of lifestyle-related risk factor control, including in secondary prevention, should be investigated. The solution may not lie in an increased role for conventional care systems, as generally suggested by healthcare professionals, who cannot ignore the decrease in medical personnel and the financial pressure placed on all care systems in the world.
Postel-Vinay
Nicolas
N
Unité d'hypertension artérielle, hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, 75651 Paris Cedex 15.
Bobrie
Guillaume
G
D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation