Little P, Slocock L, Griffin S, Pillinger J. Who is targeted for lifestyle advice? A cross-sectional survey in two general practices. Br J Gen Prac 1999;49:806.
This study highlights the need to improve delivery and uptake of lifestyle advice to patients. Despite targeting high risk individuals recall of advice was poor, especially in patients with hypertension. One-third of patients followed up by questionnaire believed they were healthy, but their reported lifestyle did not support this.
Aylett M, Creighton P, Jachuck S, Newrick D, Evans A. Stopping drug treatment of hypertension: experience in 18 general practices. Br J Gen Prac 1999;49:977.
A study carried out in 18 GP practices in north east England to determine the percentage of hypertensive patients who could have their medication withdrawn without relapse. The authors found that 22 per cent of well controlled hypertensive patients remained normotensive three years after stopping medicines. Of those who relapsed over half did so within three months.
No useful factors which would help practitioners to predict successful withdrawal were identified. The results were considered to be generalisable to treatment of hypertension throughout primary care. Mean blood pressures increased. Although few measurements at final assessment appeared to indicate starting or increasing medication, the levels were higher and patients may have had a small increase in overall cardiovascular risk.
What's in the medical press? - The rapidly changing situation in primary care means that it is often difficult to keep up to date with what is happening politically and clinically. This section of Primary Care Pharmacy will try to pick out a few articles that may be useful in day-to-day practice or have importance for the primary care role.