[Clinical manifestations and level of blood pressure in patients evaluated for the first time in a Hypertension Clinic].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical manifestations, blood pressure level, and determinants of the degree of hypertension (HT) control in the patients referred by the Primary Care physicians and evaluated for the first time in a Hypertension Clinic.


METHODS
The participants were 1,317 consecutively referred patients for the first time to the Hypertension Clinic by their Primary Care physician, between January 1997 and November 2000. The following initial study protocol was applied: case history and physical exploration, blood and urine biochemistry, chest and abdomen x-rays, fundus oculi and electrocardiogram. According to the initial clinical orientation and the results of the complementary tests described, the study was supplemented or not with other complementary studies. Results were registered in a computer dabatase and subsequently were analyzed with the statistical program SPSS 9.0. RESULTS. 741 (56.3%) of the 1,317 patients were women. The average age was 54.58 14.4 years (range: 14-91 years). Average systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 152.6 22.7 mmHg and 94.2 11.6 mmHg, respectively. 71.6% (943 patients) presented at least two cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), 50.5% (665 patients) three CVRF and 10.4% (137 patients) four CVRF. 43.6% (575 patients) presented a degree I, 33.2% (438 patients) a degree II and 23.1% (304 patients) a degree III HT. The degree of HT was associated with the age, the time elapsed from the beginning of the HT, the body mass index (BMI) and the levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. A model of logistic regression to classify the patients as HT degrees I or II-III identified as independent variables the age, the time elapsed from the beginning of HTA, the BMI, the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the plasma LDL cholesterol level greater of 160 mg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
Half of the patients sent for the first time by its Primary Care physician to our Hypertension Clinic presented at least three CVRF. Furthermore, 56.4% presented a moderate-severe HTA (degrees II-III). Finally, the degree of HTA of the patients was related to the age, the time elapsed from the beginning of the HTA, the Quetelet's index, and the existence of DM and hypercholesterolemia (HC).
Mediavilla García
J D
JD
Unidad de Hipertensión y Lípidos. Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves. Granada. Spain. jmediavilla@latinmail.com
Fernández-Torres
C
C
Sabio Sánchez
J M
JM
Hidalgo-Tenorio
C
C
Jiménez-Alonso
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors