Hospital-level Variation in the Management of Blood Pressure and Low-density Lipoprotein in the Outpatient Hypertensives in China-a Cross Sectional Study

Survey on BP, Lipids and Cardiovascular Risks in the Outpatient Hypertensives and Continuing Medical Education Program

To investigate the proportion, medication use and control rate of metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidemia in outpatients with hypertension in different levels of hospitals in China. To investigate the gap between guidelines and clinical practices, and analyze the cause. we also set up a continuing medical education program to narrow the gap and the effect of the program will be estimated.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Outpatients from departments of Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology, Geriatrics or General Internal Medicine.
2. Diagnosed as hypertension. Diagnostic criteria: 1)The office BP measured at the day of visit and at least one time before that day were above the cut-off values ( ≥140 mmHg SBP and/or ≥90 mmHg DBP); 2)for patients with normal BP at the day of visit, they should have already been given pre-treatment with antihypertensive drugs ≥ 2 weeks.
3. Voluntary participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients aged< 18 years old.
2. Patients without a definite diagnosis of hypertension（for instance, if the patient has been taking antihypertensive drugs irregularly, it is difficult to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension）.
3. Patients with a definite diagnosis of secondary hypertension.
4. Patients are diagnosed dyslipidemia with clear cause, such as nephrotic syndrome, severe hypothyroidism, terminal stage of malignancy, etc.
5. Patients are diagnosed end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis patients.
6. Patients diagnosed with mental abnormalities who are unable to complete the questionnaire.
7. Patients have once participated in this research during this study cycle（to avoid repeated participation）.