Hypertension care in general practice: an opinion survey

An opinion survey was conducted among 60 general practitioners from different parts of West Bengal with 6 prefixed questions covering some practical issues of hypertension. Fifty-eight doctors responded. In the opinion of the majority, 160 mm of Hg (systolic) and 90 mm of Hg (diastolic) are the cut off pressure to diagnose hypertension. Forty-eight per cent of the practitioners opined that a period of observation is necessary before antihypertensives were started. Eighty-seven per cent of the practitioners would start their patients on antihypertensive drugs well before the blood pressure reached 160/104 mm of Hg. High diastolic pressure was thought to be dangerous by 50% doctors and both high systolic and diastolic pressures were thought to be dangerous by 43% doctors. Fifty-two per cent practitioners opined that 140/90 mm of Hg should be the target blood pressure after treatment. Most of them (63%) opined that antihypertensive treatment should be continued life long. Practitioner's opinion were analysed in the light of current international literatures on basic therapeutic approaches to hypertension with emphasis on certain issues of controversy.