Occurrence rate and clinical predictors of hypertensive pseudocrisis in emergency room care.
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.
Sobrinho
Silvestre
S
Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Unidade de Emergência, Hospital da Cidade, HC, Brazil. ssnb.ba@terra.com.br
Correia
Luís C L
LC
Cruz
Constança
C
Santiago
Mila
M
Paim
Ana Catarina
AC
Meireles
Bruno
B
Andrade
Mariana
M
Kerner
Mariana
M
Amoedo
Paula
P
de Souza
Carlos Marcílio
CM
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
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents