Introduction: The third Brazilian Consensus of Hypertension recomends the usage of pharmacological (PT) and non-pharmacological treatment (NPT). In Brazil, we don't know how if this recommedation has been followet by doctors.
Objectives: a) to characterize NPT regarding prescription and acceptability by hypertensive patients; b) characterize PT concerning the criterion used for choosing medication and medication prescribed; and c) identify doctors' opinions about patients' degree of acceptability to PT and NPT.
Methods: 37904 questionnaires with reply-paid envelopes were sent to Brazilian doctors and 2519 of those were replied (57% from the Southeast region, 41% were cardiologists, and 26% clinicians).
Results: 1- 62% of doctors recommend NPT to 25% of their patients. 2 - The most recommended NP treatments are: hyposodic diet (55%), weight reduction (29%) and physical exercises (8%), considering that doctors believe that 50% of their patients follow a hyposodic diet, 20% do physical exercises and 19% lose weight. 3 - Only one medication is prescribed at the beginning of a PT (88%) and when blood pressure isn't under control, 55% of the doctors associate other medications with it whereas 33% of them increase the dose. 4 - The most prescribed medications are: diuretics (53%) and ECA inhibitors (24%). 5 - The main criteria for choosing medication are: personal experience (32%) and characteristics of patients (31%). 6 - Doctors (60%) believe that acceptability to PT is better.
Conclusion: The recommendations of the Third Brazilian Consensus of Hypertension have been followed partially concerning NPT and as expected regarding PT.