Detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Spain

Attitudes and practices with regard to hypertension were the subject of a survey conducted in 1987 among 2,500 Spanish general practitioners. Their responses showed almost complete use of diagnostic criteria adhering to WHO recommendations and guidelines, the wide prescription of diuretics as first-step medication and beta-blockers as the drug of choice in second-step treatment, and a non-compliance rate of 25% attributed to inadequate information and bureaucracy, similar to other countries.