2009.12.28 13:15
2009.12.28 19:58
2009.12.29 06:22
One has to choose between the "quality or longevity" of life.
But "Quality" means a lot of different things, so does "longevity".
If a patient goes to a doctor for help, I would assume he's worried about both.
When doctors treat patients, he needs to have a certain fixed guideline or goal.
That is what this article is about. It shows the standard.
The final decision is up to the practicing doctor and his patient.
There has to be a modification of the standard according to the realities,
such as side reactions, complications, or affordabilty/cost.
First of all, Happy New Year To You and Your Family, Lee sun-bae-nim.
Secondly, I have a few questions for you as a practicing Internist.
1. Are we treating for numbers(for desirable blood pressure) or patient as a whole?
When we combine various anti-hypertensive medications to achieve optimal blood pressure,
a lot of times patients cannot funtion for normal daily life, lethargic, depressed and so on.
I mean they cannot lead their quality of life.
2. What about the cost of various prescrptions?
In USA, most of IHD patients are retirees. They live on fixed income.
Even though government pays part of it, they have to pay for remaining cost.
There are cases crossing the border to Mexico or Canada to get low-priced prescriptions.
I don't know how they afford in Korea though.
PS; I have strong doubt whether pharmaceutical companies influenced this treatment
guide lines or not, as in anti-hyperlipidemia treatment.
I hope this could be just my presumption and unnecessary doubt.