The Organisation of Treatment of Hypertension; the Role of the General Practitioner

2009 ◽  
Vol 205 (S626) ◽  
pp. 73-74
Author(s):  
SIGURD HUMERFELT
BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e026846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel M R Schols ◽  
Eline Meijs ◽  
Geert-Jan Dinant ◽  
Henri E J H Stoffers ◽  
Mariëlle M E Krekels ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo investigate how many general practitioner (GP)-referred venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are diagnosed during 1 year in one geographical region and to investigate the (urgent) referral pathway of VTE diagnoses, including the role of laboratory D-dimer testing.DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingGP patients of 47 general practices in a demarcated geographical region of 161 503 inhabitants in the Netherlands.ParticipantsWe analysed all 895 primary care patients in whom either the GP determined a D-dimer value or who had a diagnostic work-up for suspected VTE in a non-academic hospital during 2015.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcomes of this study were the total number of VTEs per year and the diagnostic pathways—including the role of GP determined D-dimer testing—of patients urgently referred to secondary care for suspected VTE. Additionally, we explored the use of an age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off.ResultsThe annual VTE incidence was 0.9 per 1000 inhabitants. GPs annually ordered 5.1 D-dimer tests per 1000 inhabitants. Of 470 urgently GP-referred patients, 31.3% had a VTE. Of those urgently referred based on clinical assessment only (without D-dimer testing), 73.8% (96/130) had a VTE; based on clinical assessment and laboratory D-dimer testing yielded 15.0% (51/340) VTE. Applying age-adjusted D-dimer cut-offs to all patients aged 50 years or older resulted in a reduction of positive D-dimer results from 97.9% to 79.4%, without missing any VTE.ConclusionsAlthough D-dimer testing contributes to the diagnostic work-up of VTE, GPs have a high detection rate for VTE in patients who they urgently refer to secondary care based on clinical assessment only.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-83
Author(s):  
G S Anikin ◽  
I M Chernova ◽  
V G Vinokurov

Over the years b-blocker metoprolol is one of the commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of various cardiovascular pathologies . The following review article discusses the classification of b-blockers , and pharmacokinetics of two metoprolol forms available on the market today: metoprolol tartrate (Vasocardin, Corvitolum, Egilok ) and metoprolol succinate (Betaloc ZOK). The role of metoprolol in the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure is described here as well.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e016218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mehring ◽  
Ewan Donnachie ◽  
Antonius Schneider ◽  
Martin Tauscher ◽  
Roman Gerlach ◽  
...  

ObjectivesA considerable proportion of regional variation in healthcare use and health expenditures is to date still unexplained. The aim was to investigate regional differences in the gatekeeping role of general practitioners and to identify relevant explanatory variables at patient and district level in Bavaria, Germany.DesignRetrospective routine data analysis using claims data held by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.ParticipantsAll patients who consulted a specialist in ambulatory practice within the first quarter of 2011 (n=3 616 510).Outcomes measuresOf primary interest is the effect of district-level measures of rurality, physician density and multiple deprivation on (1) the proportion of patients with general practitioner (GP) coordination of specialist care and (2) the mean amount in Euros claimed by specialist physicians.ResultsThe proportion of patients whose use of specialist services was coordinated by a GP was significantly higher in rural areas and in highly deprived regions, as compared with urban and less deprived regions. The hierarchical models revealed that increasing age and the presence of chronic diseases are the strongest predictive factors for coordination by a GP. In contrast, the presence of mental illness, an increasing number of medical condition categories and living in a city are predictors for specialist use without GP coordination. The amount claimed per patient was €10 to €20 higher in urban districts and in regions with lower deprivation. Hierarchical models indicate that this amount is on average higher for patients living in towns and lower for patients in regions with high deprivation.ConclusionThe present study shows that regional deprivation is closely associated with the way in which patients access primary and specialist care. This has clear consequences, both with respect to the role of the general practitioner and the financial costs of care.


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