Blood pressure control at a hospital day clinic - A medical audit

Aims. To examine prescribing habits and blood pressure control in a hospita l day clinic population receiving calcium channel blockers. Setting. King Edward VIII Hospital day clinic, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Patients. 200 consecutive patients receiving a regimen containing calcium c hannel blockers. 190 patients with evaluable data, Method, Automated non-invasive Dinamap recording) of blood pressure. Results. Only 27% of patients had a blood pressure under 140/90 mm/Hg. Cont rol was unsatisfactory in 53% of patients (blood pressure > 160/95 mmHg), d espite the fact that they were attending a hospital-based day clinic. At le ast 2 agents were used in 93% of patients. Diuretics (62%) and angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors (59%) were the most frequently prescribed agen ts in addition to calcium channel blockers, Subjective side-effects were fe w and related to vasodilator therapy, Conclusion. The study supports findings worldwide that blood pressure contr ol tends to be poor. Several reasons for poor control were noted, The resul ts raise many important questions regarding management of hypertension.