[Major and minor changes in the electrocardiogram of the hypertensive patient].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and characteristics of electrocardiograph deviation in such hypertensive patients.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive study of a representative sample of patients with high blood pressure. SITE. Primary attention centre.


METHODS
The sample consists of 352 patients, systematically random selected from a pool of 1780 patients suffering from hypertension, aged over 14 years, attending the centre (119 males (34%) and 233 females (66%). Average age 59.4 +/- 13.5 years).


RESULTS
The first ECG reading after diagnosis of hypertension was analysed and codified according to the pooling project criteria. 38.9% present electrocardiograph deviations, the most frequent being minor wave 1 (12%), significant breaking up of the ST (9%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (5.1%), the latter more frequent in women (p = 0.03). Age, systolic arterial blood pressure and the time the condition had been in existence, certain associated chronic diseases, and use of pharmaceutical drugs acting cardiovascularly, are positively related to the deviation in ECG (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The value of ECG in the treatment of high blood pressure sufferers is indicated.
de la Figuera
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M
Area Básica de Salud La Mina, Unitat Docent de Medicina Familiar i Comunitària de Barcelona.
Vinyoles
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E
Mata
M
M
Davins
J
J
Contreras
C
C
Contijoch
C
C
Marquet
R
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
Alteraciones mayores y menores en el electrocardiograma del paciente hipertenso.