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- Title
What proportion of hypertensive diabetics at Macoya Health Centre are achieving the JNC VII recommended blood pressure target of 130/80 mmHg?
- Authors
Laloo, P.; Maharaj, R. G.
- Abstract
Introduction Despite widespread dissemination of guidelines advocating tight control, many patients with diabetes continue to have uncontrolled hypertension. We set out to determine what percentage of diabetics are achieving the target blood pressure of < 130/80 at the Macoya Health Centre. Method The standard criteria for this audit were adopted from the American Diabetes Association with some modifications according to the most updated evidence- based clinical guidelines, JNC VII. From the period July 22nd to August 26th, 2010, all patients' records in the chronic disease clinic were examined. Inclusion criteria included : Diabetic patients with hypertension included in the nurses' diabetic register, patients' records without target organ damage must show that their blood pressure was recorded at least two different occasions before drug therapy was commenced and patients' records show that assessments for control of blood pressure were done within 3 consultations after diagnosis with hypertension. Results Of the 342 records examined, 209 were found to be both diabetic and hypertensive. 199 were eventually selected for data analysis with 10 rejected since they did not fulfill the inclusion criteria. The average age of patients was 62.7 years. There were 87 female patients and 112 male patients. A total of 75 (37.7%) of all diabetics achieved this ideal control of 130/80 mmHg. This made up 44 (39%) males and 31 (35.6%) females. Discussion The NHS Diabetes Audit for 2007-2008 showed that only 30 % of people who had their blood pressure checked during the audit period achieved the desired target blood pressure. Standards of hypertension care for diabetics at the Macoya health centre is definitely not optimal although they are as good as those reported by other audits. However with implementation of audit recommendations and greater awareness of physicians this can be improved. Improvement in standards of care can decrease incidence and severity of complications in addition to decreasing incidence of target organ damage. A second phase of audit should be performed after the implementation period is complete.
- Publication
Caribbean Medical Journal, 2011, Vol 73, Issue 2, p11
- ISSN
0374-7042
- Publication type
Academic Journal