Control of hypertension in a rural environment: 18-month follow-up (the CRONICAT program)
Fornells Vallés, J.M.; Balaguer Vintró, I.
Medicina Clinica 89(11): 450-455
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 3682975 Document Number: 293882
In the Program for the Control and Prevention of Chronic diseases that is carried out in an area in central Catalonia [Spain] since 1981, hypertension was selected as the first intervention activity. Seventeen physicians and 10 nurses, who have 10 villages and a population of 30000 under their care, participate in the control of hypertension. The registry of hypertensive patients began in February 1984 after a period during which the protocol was prepared, the organization of the study was established, and the specific areas were defined. The results have been evaluated after 6 and 18 months, and they have been used as a basis for continuing medical education programs. After 18 months 703 individuals had been registered. A significant reduction in mean systolic (from 163.6 .+-. 10.9 to 147.5 .+-. 17.3 mmHg) and diastolic (from 96.1 .+-. 10.9 to 87.5 .+-. 10.1 mmHg) pressures has been observed. The proportion of patients that were considered to be adequately controlled rose from 18.8% initially to 59.1% at the end of the 18-month period. The proportion of individuals with a body mass index (BM) higher than 30 was 27.6% initially and 25.7% after 18 months. For the group of hypertensive individuals who entered the study during the initial four months, the results achieved after 6 months were maintained after 18 months but with no additional improvement.