[Risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with frequent hypertensive crises].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a relative risk of cardiovascular complications in uncomplicated hypertensive crises (UHC) in hypertensive patients.


METHODS
A questionnaire retrospective case-control study covered one-third of patients registered in the data base of a hospital or outpatient clinic. The patients were matched by basic characteristics. By frequency of UHC the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 305) comprised patients with frequent (weekly or more often) UHC, group 2 (n = 558) consisted of patients with rare UHC (monthly or less frequent).


RESULTS
Patients of group 1 had a longer history of arterial hypertension (13 +/- 9 years vs 9 +/- 7.8 years, p < 0.05). The target blood pressure was achieved in group 1 in 42% vs 56% in group 2; p < 0.05). Group 1 patients had a higher risk of non-fatal stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA)--18 and 10% (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.28-2.93; p < 0.05), chronic cardiac failure (44 vs 30%; OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.22-2.21; p < 0.05), left ventricular hypertrophy (72 and 56%; OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.52-2.93; p < 0.05) and myocardial ischemia (56 and 38%; OR 2.05; 95%CI 1.53-2.74; p < 0.05). UHC frequency had no significant influence on the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction (19 vs 15%; OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.92-1.94; p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Frequent UHC raise the risk of non-fatal acute disorder of cerebral circulation, chronic cardiac failure, ischemia and left ventricular hypertrophy. Frequency of UHC is not related to the risk of myocardial infarction.
Kolos
I P
IP
Chazova
I E
IE
Tereshchenko
S N
SN
Nakonechnikov
S N
SN
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires