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Articles: Christianne L. Roumie, Tom A. Elasy, Robert Greevy, Marie R. Griffin, Xulei Liu, William J. Stone, Kenneth A. Wallston, Robert S. Dittus, Vincent Alvarez, Janice Cobb, and Theodore Speroff Improving Blood Pressure Control through Provider Education, Provider Alerts, and Patient Education: A Cluster Randomized Trial Ann Intern Med 2006; 145: 165-175 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Comments on importance of drug therapy for hypertension

Munir E Nassar   (3 August 2006)

Comments on importance of drug therapy for hypertension 3 August 2006
Munir E Nassar, M.D., Ph.D. An academician, without portfolio Send rapid response to journal: Re: Comments on importance of drug therapy for hypertension mnassar1{at}rochester.rr.com Munir E Nassar	It is interesting to read the paper of Christianne, L. Roumie,Tom A. and co-workers, and the "importance of improving blood pressure control through provider education...",(Ann Intern Med 2006;145:165-175), however primary care physicians and healthcare providers may be lulled that this is a completely satisfactory treatment along with monodrug therapy in treating hypertension.In addition the paper leaves a lot to be desired as far as follow up and feed back. Hence, it is important to emphasize the following points extracted from the 7th report of the Joint Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension : That drug treatment, and combination of drugs is most important to control Hypertension. Monotherapy (various individual drug therapy) showed control on average in 50 % of patients at the end of one year. Age appears to be an important factor in increasing the risk of elevating the Systolic Blood pressure Hence, combination drug therapy up to three or four drugs appear to be necessay to satisfactorily control blood pressure. Conflict of Interest: None declared