Visit Frequency and Hypertension

Overview

Journal J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2005 Aug 10

PMID 16088295

Citations 27

Authors

Richard Guthmann

Nancy Davis

Matthew Brown

Jose Elizondo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The best return visit interval to achieve blood pressure control is currently unknown. This study investigates the relationship between return visit interval and percent change in blood pressure. We reviewed a cohort of hypertensive patient charts from two large, urban family practice offices. Four hundred twenty-nine patients with 7910 intervals showed a mean return visit interval of 79.5 days. Blood pressure control occurred during 34.5% of office visits. Pearson's r correlation coefficients between return visit interval and percent change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure demonstrated a small but statistically significant correlation. Shorter return visit intervals were associated with better percent changes in blood pressure. The return visit interval may be a simple and useful tool to improve management of hypertension.

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