Audit on hypertension management in general practice.

The case records of an urban teaching practice in Britain were studied to assess the performance of the practice in the detection and management of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension among adults was 9%. The original diagnosis of hypertension was made by the patients' own general practitioner in two-thirds of patients. Evidence of adequate monitoring of treatment and follow-up by general practitioners was seen in only one-third of patients with hypertension. The effect of these findings on the subsequent performance of the practice is discussed.