A resurvey of hypertensive patients detected in a dental office screening program

In order to ascertain the fate of hypertensive patients who were discovered through the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry Hypertension Screening Program, a telephone survey was conducted whereby the first 128 patients discovered to be hypertensive through the program were interviewed concerning their current state of care. All 128 patients were at least three months postreferral. Patients were asked whether or not they were still under a physician's care; those responding positively were further questioned regarding medications prescribed, medication consumption, and frequency of physician visits. In all, 109 patients were contacted. The 109 patients consisted of 18 patients treated at the hypertension clinic at Medical College of Virginia and 91 patients being treated by private physicians. Of the 18 clinic patients contacted, 17 (94 percent) were still being treated. Of the patients being treated by private physicians 62 (68.1 percent) were still being followed. Of the 109 patients contacted, 79 (72.5 percent) were still under care and 30 (27.5 percent) were no longer under care. Of the patients still under care 56 (71 percent) had been prescribed medicine and only two had discontinued medication. Forty-one patients saw their physician more frequently than every three months; 21 saw their physician every three to four months and 17 saw their physician semiannually or annually. Of the delinquent hypertensives in this study, 72 percent were still under care at the time of survey and of the previously undetected hypertensives 73 percent were still under care. It is concluded that there is still a significant drop-out-rate among hypertensives after refereral and that some void exists in the follow-up of hypertensives. The suggestion is made that the dentist may be able to assist in follow-up and possibly reduce the drop-out-rate.