Treatment of hypertension in general practice, consequences of therapeutic changes. A multipractice study of the therapeutic patterns, blood pressure control, drug administration schedule and incidence of side effects

• Published in: Ugeskrift for læger Vol. 153; no. 17; p. 1204
• Main Authors: Jensen, H A, Rasmussen, K, Garre, K, Waldorf, S, Poulsen, D L, Bech, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Danish
• Published: Denmark 22.04.1991
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - adverse effects; Blood Pressure Determination; Denmark; Drug Administration Schedule; Family Practice; Female; Humans; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Denmark
• ISSN: 0041-5782; 1603-6824

The antihypertensive treatment schedules were investigated in 1,153 consecutive patients in 65 general practices. Treatment consisted mainly of diuretics or betablockers singly or combined. In a sample of 303 of these patients, treatment was altered in a randomised, single-blind, cross-over design to consist of a single daily dose of metoprolol, or a single daily dose of metoprolol plus a single dose of a placebo. The effect of multiple dosages on the quality of life was investigated simultaneously with investigation of the efficacy of single drug treatment with a beta-blocker on blood-pressure control as compared with the previous treatment. A slight increase in side-effects was observed which might be ascribed to increased awareness by the patient and also by the doctor. The more simplified regimen with a single daily dose of the betablocker showed the same blood-pressure levels as in the previous more complicated regimen.