Hypertension and Compliance: Implications for the Primary Physician

As public health turns its attention increasingly (and appropriately) to the question of diminishing returns in therapeutic medicine,1 it has an equally important responsibility to focus on improving the outcomes of therapy. An example of the latter concern is the problem of obtaining patient compliance in hypertension control, in which continuous effective treatment has been definitely associated with prolonged productive life.The Secretary of HEW established the National High Blood Pressure Education Program in 1972.2 One motivating factor was the realization that at least two fifths of Americans who had high blood pressure did not know it; roughly two fifths . . .