Hypertension treatment and control rates: chart review in an academic family medicine clinic.

Objective: To characterize hypertension management in an academic family medicine clinic.

Design: Cross-sectional chart review.

Setting: Academic family medicine clinic in Edmonton, Alta.

Participants: A total of 210 patients with 1 or more visits for hypertension during the previous 3 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Patient characteristics, current antihypertensive therapies, most recent blood pressure measurements, and compelling indications according to the 2006 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations.

Results: A total of 185 subjects (88%) were prescribed antihypertensive medications, and 89 (42%) had controlled hypertension. Younger subjects, people with diabetes, and people not receiving antihypertensive medication therapy appeared less likely to have controlled hypertension. There were 76 subjects (36%) prescribed 1 antihypertensive medication, 65 subjects (31%) prescribed 2 antihypertensive medications, and 44 (21%) prescribed 3 or more antihypertensive medications. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were prescribed for 51% of the subjects, diuretics for 47%, beta-blockers for 27%, calcium channel blockers for 23%, angiotensin receptor blockers for 20%, and alpha-blockers for 1%.

Conclusion: Hypertension treatment and control rates in this academic family medicine clinic appear to be better than those in the general population. Following the principles of a continuous quality improvement process, this information will serve as an important foundation for identifying areas to improve hypertension management in the clinic.