The study
The evidence for ideal time intervals between measuring BP and medication changes or dose increases of antihypertensives is unknown.
So a retrospective cohort analysis of around 88, 000 patients between 1986 and 2010 in Britain aimed to find out if the time taken to increase dose or change anti-hypertensive medications (for people with elevated blood pressure), and the time-interval to follow up patients after that, has any association with cardiovascular events or mortality.
The findings
There is an increased risk of death from the following:
1 A delay of more than 1.4 months in increasing the dose of anti-hypertensives in patients with raised blood pressure.
2 A delay of more than 2.7 months in follow-up after increasing the dose of hypertensives.
What does it mean for GPs?
Delays should be minimised in dose-increases or medication changes for patients with elevated blood pressure.
After medication changes and dose-increases, patients should be followed up as soon as possible.
The paper
Dr Hamed Khan is a GP in the emergency department of St George’s, London and a clinical lecturer. He tweets as @drhamedkhan.
