Sequels to screening for hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Fiji

Summary We evaluated the outcome of a case-finding programme resulting from an epidemiological survey on diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors by re-interviewing 318 persons who had been found to have hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus in a population survey carried out in Fiji 1.5 years earlier in 1980. At re-examination, 34% of the hypertensive patients and 43% of the diabetic patients were not aware of their diagnosis. However, the proportion of treated hypertensive people was tripled and that of diabetic patients doubled. It was not possible to identify the characteristics of the persons who were missed in the follow-up. Many persons who were unaware of their condition regularly used, however, the existing health services available. On the other hand, several initially treated cases had no proper follow-up. More careful planning and development of comprehensive community-based programmes for hypertension and diabetes are needed in Fiji. Simple population screening for hypertension and diabetes may result in an extra work load and limit the available health care resources so that the overall outcome is not satisfactory.