[Implementation of a hypertension protocol in a basic health area as a basis for a medical audit]

To analyse compliance in the application of the Arterial Hypertension procedure and the level of monitoring of our hypertensive patients. To introduce quality control methodology into the Primary Care team's work systems.

Observation study of a crossover type.

Primary Care. Plaza Cataluña PCC, Manresa (Barcelona).

Audit of 100 medical records of hypertensive patients selected by systematic random sampling from a total of 533 hypertensive patients under 70 years old.

43% of the hypertensive patients had their pressure figures adequately monitored (CI 95%: 33.3-52.7) with 4.86 average number of checks per year. Analytic blood controls were performed on 66% and urine controls on 56%. Only 34% of patients had a minimal cardiovascular investigation, while back-of-eye investigation and ECGs were performed on 44% and 49%, respectively.

The arterial pressure monitoring level is acceptable. Compliance with the procedure is deficient in most complementary investigations. The periodicity of ECGs should be agreed. It is clear that patients for whom compliance with the procedure is most deficient are those who have fewer arterial pressure recordings as well as those receiving no drugs treatment. New objectives are proposed. Lastly, corrective measures are suggested, with a reassessment after two years.