A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Contacts to general practitioners and renewal of antihypertensive medication - a four-year follow-up in primary health care, Turku, Finland
Authors: Johansson, Jouni K.; Korhonen, Päivi
Publisher: BioMed Central
Publication year: 2026
Journal: BMC Primary Care
Article number: 32
Volume: 27
eISSN: 2731-4553
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-03104-5
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-025-03104-5
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/505550268
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY NC ND
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Background
Persistence with medication is central to the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy.
Electronic communication between patients and doctors may have potential to improve medication persistence among patients with hypertension. Our objective was to examine the use of antihypertensive medication in subjects with hypertension in primary health care in Finland in a longitudinal setting.
MethodsFrom the primary health care register of the city of Turku in Southwestern Finland, subjects with the diagnosis of hypertension were identified. Data of number and type of antihypertensive medication was gathered in a 4-year follow-up.
ResultsSixty-one percent of the subjects with hypertension had 1-4 antihypertensive medications in regular use. Ten percent did not use antihypertensive medication at all. Higher age, higher number of GP (general practitioner) visits, telephone contacts and electronic communication and presence of diabetes were associated with regular use of antihypertensive medication.
The most common antihypertensive medication group in regular use was ACE inhibitor/ARB-blocker (41%), followed by beta blockers (18%), diuretics (16%) and calcium channel blockers (15%).
ConclusionsRegular use of antihypertensive therapy was associated with the use of frequent GP contacts during the 4-year follow-up.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
Funding information in the publication:
Jouni Johansson: The Finnish Foundation for General Practice (Suomen yleislääketieteen säätiö), for the research grant, Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County, Turku, Finland, for the research grant and Turku University Hospital Education and Research Foundation, for the research grant.
Päivi Korhonen: Did not receive any funding for this article.
