title: Effectiveness of in-office blood pressure measurement by eye care practitioners in early detection and management of hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the number of hypertensive patients, the optometrist is able to identify by routinely taking blood pressure (BP) measurements for patients in "at-risk" groups, and to sample patients' opinions regarding in-office BP measurement. Many of the optometrists in Saudi Arabia practice in optical stores. These stores are wide spread, easily accessible and seldom need appointments. The expanding role of the optometrist as a primary health care provider (PHCP) and the increasing global prevalence of hypertension, highlight the need for an integrated approach towards detecting and monitoring hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Automated BP measurements were made twice (during the same session) at five selected optometry practices using a validated BP monitor (Omron M6) to assess the number of patients with high BP (HBP) -in at-risk groups-visiting the eye clinic routinely. Prior to data collection, practitioners underwent a two-day training workshop by a cardiologist on hypertension and how to obtain accurate BP readings. A protocol for BP measurement was distributed and retained in all participating clinics. The general attitude towards cardiovascular health of 480 patients aged 37.2 (±12.4)y and their opinion towards in-office BP measurement was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 83.6% was obtained for the survey. Ninety-three of the 443 patients (21.0%) tested for BP in this study had HBP. Of these, (62 subjects) 66.7% were unaware of their HBP status. Thirty of the 105 subjects (28.6%) who had previously been diagnosed with HBP, still had HBP at the time of this study, and only 22 (73.3%) of these patients were on medication. Also, only 25% of the diagnosed hypertensive patients owned a BP monitor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking BP measurements in optometry practices, we were able to identify one previously undiagnosed patient with HBP for every 8 adults tested. We also identified 30 of 105 previously diagnosed patients whose BP was poorly controlled, twenty-two of whom were on medication. The patients who participated in this study were positively disposed toward the routine measurement of BP by optometrists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry & Vision Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saud A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: AlAnazi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Uchechukwu L
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Osuagwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry & Vision Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Turki M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: AlMubrad
authors.affiliation: Al-Ghad International College of Applied Medical Sciences. Riyadh 11466, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hany K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kelechi C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ogbuehi
keywords: blood pressure; high blood pressure; hypertension; optometrist; public health