Evaluation of hypertension control in general practice.

A review of the medical charts of 17 general practitioners in six family clinics in Tel Aviv showed that a blood pressure reading was recorded for 69.3% of the adult patients. Elevated values--greater than or equal to 160 (systolic) and/or greater than or equal to 95 (diastolic) mm Hg--were seen in 26.1% of the patients with recorded blood pressure readings. Antihypertensive medications were presecribed for 74.5% of those with elevated blood pressure. In two thirds of the treated group, blood pressure had been measured only once or twice before the initiation of therapy. Of the treated patients, 30% seem to have stopped therapy on their own initiative. Treatment was discontinued by the physician in 18%. Of the 52% who remained on treatment, only one third had a normal systolic or diastolic pressure on the last reading. The failure to reduce blood pressure in the other two thirds may be due, at least in part, to the use of methyldopa and reserpine without a diuretic.