Characteristics and control of severe hypertension in a specialist, private practice in Jamaica.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics of patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension, in a Jamaican specialist practice; the level of blood pressure control achieved in routine clinical practice, and the number/type of antihypertensive medications required for blood pressure control.


METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 500 consecutive patients presenting to a consultant physician private group-practice between January and December 2000. Data were extracted from the records of the 48 patients with severe (Grade III) hypertension (WHO/ISH).


RESULTS
Fifty per cent (252) werefound to be hypertensive, 19% (48) had Grade III hypertension. The patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension were of mixed ethnicity, predominantly African. Most were less than 65 years old, never smoked cigarettes and were overweight/obese. Nearly one-half had LDL cholesterol >3.4 mg/dL. Diabetes (31%) and congestive heart failure (21%) were the most common comorbid conditions. Fifteen per cent had no illnesses other than severe hypertension. Cardiovascular symptoms were predominant, followed by dizziness. Only 19% of patients were asymptomatic. More than half of the patients achieved blood pressure > 140/90 mm Hg during the study period. Most patients received four drugs and the number of drugs prescribed increased with duration of follow-up. The antihypertensive medications most prescribed at one year were--angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (87%), diuretics (78%), calcium channel blockers (63%) and beta-blockers (69%).


CONCLUSIONS
Severe hypertension was a common problem in the specialist private practice in Jamaica. Most patients had cardiovascular symptoms, were dyslipidaemic and required four or more antihypertensive drugs for adequate long-term control.
Lalljie
G R
GR
glmd@hotmail.com
Lalljie
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013038:Specialization; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents