Abstract
A case-card survey in Wakayama prefecture, Japan, was performed in February 1997, to evaluate the state at of initial treatment for hypertension, including the examination for the damage of target organ, blood pressure in starting therapy and the modification of lifestyle. Data of 7647 cases from 156 facilities were obtained. The Number of enrolled female patient was larger than male patients in the private clinics at the initial examination. Electrocardiography (ECG), chest X-ray, urinary test were performed in over 70 percent of cases. Ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) was performedin 55.1% of general hospital, and 15.7% of private clinics. Examination of ophthalmic fundi was done in 25.7% and 24.6%, respectively. The rate of positive findings of these examination was higher in the general hospital than in private clinics. This same trend was observed in the past 1996 years. In lifestyle modification, the rate of moderation of dietary sodium was 93.2% in clinics, and was 96.2% in hospitals. The rate of physical exercise therapy and weight reduction were 78.3% and 75.3%, 69.7% and 79.1%, respectively. The rate of stopping smoking therapy was 74.8% in the hospitals, and was 45.1% in clinics. The rate of dietary sodium moderation, weight reduction, stopping smoking therapy, were higher in hospitals than in clinics, while on the other hand physical exercise therapy was higher in clinics. After 1996, there were no differences in the rate of dietary sodium reduction and weight reduction between the two different types of medical facilities. In contrast the rate of physical exercise therapy was higher in clinics, the rate of stopping smoking was higher in hospitals.
