[Treatment of hypertension in general practice, consequences of therapeutic changes. A multipractice study of the therapeutic patterns, blood pressure control, drug administration schedule and incidence of side effects]

Abstract

The antihypertensive treatment schedules were investigated in 1,153 consecutive patients in 65 general practices. Treatment consisted mainly of diuretics or betablockers singly or combined. In a sample of 303 of these patients, treatment was altered in a randomised, single-blind, cross-over design to consist of a single daily dose of metoprolol, or a single daily dose of metoprolol plus a single dose of a placebo. The effect of multiple dosages on the quality of life was investigated simultaneously with investigation of the efficacy of single drug treatment with a beta-blocker on blood-pressure control as compared with the previous treatment. A slight increase in side-effects was observed which might be ascribed to increased awareness by the patient and also by the doctor. The more simplified regimen with a single daily dose of the betablocker showed the same blood-pressure levels as in the previous more complicated regimen.