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[Control of arterial hypertension: analysis of visit and time factors]
T Gros1, M de la Figuera, A Méndez
1Area Básica de Salud La Mina, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona.
Insights
Controlling high blood pressure (Arterial Hypertension) varies by gender and age, with more severe cases requiring more frequent visits. Blood pressure control is not constant and depends on individual factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Arterial Hypertension (AHT) is a prevalent condition requiring ongoing management.
- Understanding patient attendance patterns and time to blood pressure control is crucial for effective AHT management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency of patient attendance for Arterial Hypertension (AHT) management.
- To determine the time elapsed between AHT diagnosis and Arterial Pressure (AP) control.
- To examine different metrics for assessing AHT control levels.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study conducted in a Teaching Health Centre.
- Analysis of 103 hypertense patients diagnosed since 1986.
- Data collected on initial and follow-up AP, attendance frequency, and time to AP control (Diastolic Arterial Pressure < 90 mmHg).
Main Results:
- AP significantly reduced within the first year (p < 0.001).
- Average attendance was 8.7 visits in the first year; higher attendance correlated with AHT severity and risk factors (p < 0.05).
- 44.6% of patients achieved AP control by year-end; average time to control was 28.6 weeks, with males and younger patients taking longer (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Gender and age influence the time needed for AP control.
- Attendance frequency is linked to AHT severity and comorbidities.
- AHT control levels are variable and not consistently maintained.
Objective:
To analyse the frequency of attendance and the time elapsed between the diagnosis of Arterial Hypertension (AHT) and the control of Arterial Pressure (AP); and to analyse the different ways of presenting the level of control of AHT.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Teaching Health Centre.
Patients:
103 hypertense patients diagnosed since 1986: 44 men (42.7%) and 59 women (57.3%), with an average age of 52.6 +/- 1. Their initial AP was 164.4 +/- 17.1/102.1 +/- 7.4 mmHg. The criterion of AHT control was Diastolic Arterial Pressure (DAP) < 90 mmHg.
Measurements And Main Results:
AP at the end of the first year was 150.1 +/- 20.6/90.7 +/- 9.6 mmHg (p < 0.001 in comparison with the initial AP). The average attendances for AHT and per patient in the first year was 8.7 +/- 5 (1-26). Patients with more severe forms of AHT and/or with associated risk factors visited more often (p < 0.05). During the first year 76 patients (73.7%) presented on at least one attendance a controlled DAP. At the end of the first year 46 patients (44.6%) were under control. The average time per patient until AP was controlled was 28.6 +/- 31.6 weeks (1-168). Males and under-65s took more time to control their AP (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
There are gender and age differences in the time required to bring AP under control. Frequency of attendance is related to the severity of AHT and the presence of other pathologies and risk factors. The level of control of AHT, expressed in different ways, is not constant.