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Cardiovascular risk factor management by French vs US primary care physicians was studied. A survey was conducted that found that French physicians spend >20 minutes while US physicians spend five to 10 minutes (P<.001) addressing cardiovascular risk with patients. Fifty-three percent of French (vs 33% of US) physicians focus more on lifestyle modification and less on medication management (P<.0001). Sixty-nine percent of French physicians spend 0% to 20% of their time on administration while 65% of US physicians spend 10% to 30% (P=.0028). Fifty-one percent of French physicians see patients in one to three months for follow-up, while 51% of US physicians see patients in three to six months (P<.0001). Eighty-seven percent of French (vs 39% of US) physicians have guidelines available in the examination room either frequently or very frequently. US physicians report disparities in care more frequently than do French physicians (P<.0001). Forty-nine percent of French (vs 10% of US) physicians believe that they have relative freedom to practice medicine (P<.001). US physicians report greater administrative efforts, frustration, and disparities in their practice. French physicians focus more of their efforts on lifestyle management and see their patients more frequently and for a longer visit time., (© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Hypertension is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Isolated and moderate hypertensions most often have an uneventful course. On the contrary, preeclampsia is a severe condition, that threatens the fetal survival, and even maternal prognosis. Recent knowledge demonstrates that preeclampsia is related to a very early defect in placentation, with late maternal systemic effects. This has important practical counterparts. Any manifestation of placental dysfunction should be detected as early as possible. Antihypertensive treatment should be used with great caution, to preserve an appropriate blood flow through a placenta whose hemodynamic resistance is high. Finally, the most appropriate therapeutic way is a preventive one. Cardiovascular risk of those young women should be later monitored.