ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of blood pressure (BP) distribution in a multiethnic primary care practice in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and risk factors. Another aim was to analyse the quality of diagnosis and effectiveness of hypertension (HT) treatment. In all, 470 adult patients (> or =16 years old) who visited the Jordbro Health Centre (JHC), Haninge Municipality, participated in this study. A general questionnaire with questions about sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, health status and chronic disease was used. Medical records: information on consultations with the general practitioner and prescriptions were collected from the medical records for the year 2001. Furthermore, a medical examination was performed: this consisted of weight, height, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and laboratory analyses including fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, electrocardiogram and spirometry. Out of 464 patients, 114 (24.6%) reported HT. Among the HT patients, 93 (81.6%) had SBP > or =140 mmHg and 52 (45.6%) DBP > or =90 mmHg. Among the nonhypertensive patients (n=350), 120 (34.3%) had SBP > or =140 mmHg and 50 (14.3%) DBP > or =90 mmHg. Furthermore, there are some patients with high BP who are unknown or undetected. HT treatment among this population is unsatisfactory and greater efforts are required to identify people with high BP and to ensure that they are managed according to the best available evidence.
Subject(s)
Family Practice , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/drug therapy , Aged , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Blood Pressure , Case-Control Studies , Demography , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Diastole , Employment , Female , Health Status , Humans , Hypertension/complications , Hypertension/physiopathology , Life Style , Male , Middle Aged , Patients , Residence Characteristics , Surveys and Questionnaires , SystoleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A relatively small proportion of the population accounts for a substantial part of the public drug cost. Therefore, identifying the characteristics of high users of drugs is an important step towards limiting the cost of drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between age, gender, well-being and symptoms, and the use of pharmaceutical specialities, herbal medicines and self-care products. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a representative population sample (n = 1.312) from a small Swedish municipality. The relationship between age, gender, well-being and symptoms, and the use of drugs and self-care products was tested using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 827 subjects. The use of prescribed pharmaceuticals increased with age in both genders. Women used prescribed and non-prescribed pharmaceuticals as well as herbal medicines and self-care products more than men. Subjects who reported low scores for well-being had significantly higher odds of having used prescribed pharmaceuticals than subjects with high scores. Bad perceived health was the only well-being measure that was associated with high odds for the use of herbal medicines. Most symptoms occurred more frequently in users than in nonusers of pharmaceuticals. Subjects with many symptoms (six or more) had higher odds of having used pharmaceuticals and self-care products than those with few symptoms. CONCLUSION: High age, female gender and low perceived well-being significantly increased the use of drugs, particularly prescribed pharmaceuticals. Subjects with many symptoms used pharmaceuticals and self-care products more than those with few symptoms.
Subject(s)
Bandages/statistics & numerical data , Nonprescription Drugs/administration & dosage , Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage , Pharmacoepidemiology , Phytotherapy , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Prevalence , Sex Distribution , Surveys and Questionnaires , SwedenABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on self-reported well-being and symptoms. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire was sent to a representative population sample drawn from the population census. SETTING: The municipality of Håbo, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Out of 1312 subjects in the population sample, 827 (63%) participated in the study, i.e. answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: Sociodemographic characteristics significantly influenced most well-being variables and symptoms. The prevalence of symptoms in the categories depression and tension, as well as headache, decreased while most other symptoms increased with age. Women had more symptoms than men. Married subjects, compared to others, had higher social and mental but lower physical well-being. Subjects from households with up to three persons, and subjects with comprehensive school only, had lower physical well-being than other subjects. Working subjects generally had a higher well-being than non-working subjects. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic characteristics had a significant influence on most well-being variables and symptoms.
