HYPERTENSION CARE IN AL ASYAH PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, AL QASSIM, SAUDI ARABIA: AN AUDIT OF STRUCTURE, PROCESS, AND OUTCOME

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the quality of hypertension care in Al-Asyah primary health cares (PHC) center, Al Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia through an auditing of structure, process, and outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All files of registered hypertensive patients in the PHC center were reviewed as recommended by WHO, National Quality Assurance protocol, protocol of management of hypertension and criteria in the Sixth report of Joint National Committee on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNCVI), to evaluate the structure, process, and outcome of hypertension care. RESULT: All hypertensive patients registered in Al Asyah PHC center ( 201 patients ) were included in this study. The prevalence of HTN among adults (≥15 years) was7.4% and increased with age. Patients were mostly Saudi (94.5%) with a mean age of 58.6 ± 13.9 years. Most of the patients were diagnosed as essential HTN (98.5%) at Al Asyah PHC center (87.1%). The mean duration of the HTN was 7.7 years, and 48.8% had a family history of HTN and 35.3% had diabetes mellitus. Most patients were obese or overweight (53.7% and 31.3% respectively), blood pressure of 79.6% of the patients was well controlled, and 45.3% of these patients had at least one complication. Ischemic heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, stroke, and myocardial infarction were the most common recorded complications. CONCLUSION: This study proves that all essential resources needed for hypertension care are available, but the results of process and outcome indicators show the need for the improvement of the referral system as well as good continuous constant health education programs to encourage the patients, their families and the community to observe more healthy lifestyles.