title: Occurrence rate and clinical predictors of hypertensive pseudocrisis in emergency room care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of hypertensive pseudocrisis in patients treated in emergency rooms with substantially elevated blood pressure levels. To compare this prevalence in private and public hospitals. To describe the frequency of wrong treatment for this condition. To identify, during triage, independent predictors of pseudocrisis. To evaluate the prognosis of patients with pseudocrisis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients above the age of 18, admitted to the Emergency Rooms of two hospitals (private and public) during a 6 month timeframe, with diastolic blood pressure > or = 120 mmHg were included in the study. Hypertensive pseudocrisis was determined when none of the criteria for hypertensive crisis were present (Guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology(1)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 110 patients studied, the prevalence of hypertensive pseudocrisis was 48% (95% CI = 39%-58%) and prevailed in the private hospital (59% vs 37%, p=0.02). The frequency of wrong treatment was similar between the two hospitals (94% vs 95%, p=0.87). After multivariate analysis, the presence of headache upon admission (Odds Ratio=5.4; 95% CI = 5.1-13; p< 0.001) and diastolic BP levels (Odds Ratio=0.93; 95% CI = 0.89-0.97; p=0.002) were independent predictors of pseudocrisis. The 5 month mortality rate was lower in the pseudocrisis group than the hypertensive crisis group (0% vs 21%, p=0.0004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of hypertensive pseudocrisis in patients when hypertensive crisis is suspected, particularly in the private hospital. The frequency of wrong treatment was similar for both the private and public hospitals. Headaches and diastolic BP levels are independent predictors for this clinical condition. Hypertensive pseudocrisis has a low rate of lethality.
authors.affiliation: Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Unidade de Emergência, Hospital da Cidade, HC, Brazil. ssnb.ba@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Silvestre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobrinho
authors.forename: Luís C L
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Constança
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Mila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Paim
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meireles
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerner
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amoedo
authors.forename: Carlos Marcílio
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015588:Observer Variation; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents