Hypertension in Haitians: results of a pilot survey of a public teaching hospital multispecialty clinic.
Little is known about hypertension in Haitians. We performed a pilot survey of ambulatory Haitian patients in a multispecialty clinic at a large public teaching hospital. Approximately 10% of the clinic population was of Haitian origin. Clinical data were collected on 88 consecutive Haitian patients. Of these 88, 77 (87.5%) were hypertensive (SBP > or = 140 or DBP > or = 90 mm Hg or taking antihypertensive medication). The characteristics of the hypertensive patients were: age 54.1 +/- 13.0 (s.d.) years; 27 men, 50 women; 12/64 (19%) smoked; 7/63 (11%) used alcohol. Diabetes was present in 21/77 (27%). In patients for whom height and weight were available, obesity was present in 52%. Using JNC V criteria, 18 (23%) had Stage 1, 16 (21%) Stage 2, 18 (23%) Stage 3, and 25 (33%) Stage 4 hypertension. Despite 63/77 (82%) being treated for hypertension, only 20 (26%) were controlled (< 140/< 90 mm Hg). Of those under treatment, 29 were taking one drug; 18 (two drugs); 12 (three drugs); and four (four drugs). Target organ damage was evident in 37 (48%), including coronary artery disease (8), CHF (6), chronic renal failure (15), stroke (9), and LVH by ECG (19). There was evidence of severe noncompliance in 32 (42%). We conclude that in this clinic sample, hypertension was highly prevalent and unusually severe in terms of blood pressure (BP) level, refractoriness to treatment, and target organ consequences. Further studies are indicated.
Preston
R A
RA
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, USA.
Materson
B J
BJ
Yoham
M A
MA
Anapol
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006205:Haiti / Q000208:ethnology; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D013038:Specialization