title: [Severe hypertension (grade III and grade IV). A study on the clinical course in 117 patients in Landspítalinn Medical Department 1957-1971. 1974].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, complications, survival time and causes of death of patients with severe hypertension (S.H.) (grade III and grade IV) who were admitted to Landspítalinn (The University Hospital in Reykjavík med. Depart.) during the years 1957-1971. During this period 117 patients were found to have S.H. according to the grading of Keith and Wagener (20 patients with grade IV end 97 with grade III). It was found that relatively fewer patients with S.H. were admitted during the last 5 year period (1967-1971) compared to the two previous 5 year-period (1957-1966). The cases were analysed according to sex and age distribution, blood urea, electrocardiographic changes, heart size (by x-ray) and blood pressure readings at the time of admission. In relation to the above mentioned factors the incidence and type of complications, survival time and causes of death were evaluated. The main causes of death were cerebrovascular accidents (26,6%), myocardial infarction (22,8%) and uremia (22,8%). The survival calculations were done by the decremental method aim taken from patient age less than 66 years. Approximately 50% of the men and 60% of the women had a 5 year survival. Elevated blood urea values and signs of left ventricular hypertrophy in the electrocardiogram at the time of diagnosis of S.H. had an unfavorable influence on length of survival.
authors.forename: Thorkell
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudbrandsson
authors.forename: Snorri Páll
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Snorrason
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate