Estimation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients in primary care.
Assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk is a rational method of managing hypertension. General practitioners and practice nurses were asked to estimate absolute risk in a group of elderly hypertensive patients during clinical practice. Risk was correctly estimated in 21% of patients, underestimated in 63% of patients, and overestimated in 16% of patients. Unless primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk charts or tables, treatment decisions in primary care may not be made against realistic estimates of patients' susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.
Montgomery
A A
AA
Department of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol. alan.a.montgomery@bris.ac.uk
Fahey
T
T
MacKintosh
C
C
Sharp
D J
DJ
Peters
T J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom