Treatment of hypertension in Finnish general practice seems unsatisfactory despite evidence-based guidelines.

OBJECTIVES

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.

DESIGN

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

SETTING

Finnish general practice offices in primary care.

SUBJECTS

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

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

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.