[Continuity of care and treatment of hypertension at a health center in Tunisia].

Abstract

This article describes the follow-up of 210 hypertensive patients in Soliman, Tunisia. Five years after starting treatment, two thirds of the patients are still followed-up. The incidence of interruption of treatment is of 0.18 per year of follow-up. Nearly half of these first interruptions occur during the first six months, but most do not result in a final abandon of treatment. The drop in blood pressure is more important among those who stick to their appointment schedules, than among those who do not. The former also present less hypertensive crises.