title: "Later, lazier, and unluckier": a heuristic profile of high vulnerability is an independent predictor of uncontrolled blood pressure (the PREVIEW study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vulnerability profiling, an alternative to deterministic risk assessment, offers clinicians a more intuitive but empirically-grounded assessment of patient risk. This study aimed to determine whether a heuristic profile of high vulnerability is an independent predictor of uncontrolled hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of prospective observational study data on 2999 hypertensive patients treated with valsartan. Predictive validity of vulnerability profiling for first-line, second-line, and first-or-second-line antihypertensive treatment was inferred from 1) logistic regression models with adequate statistical fit, 2) statistically significant odds ratios for uncontrolled BP for the high-vulnerability cluster exceeding 1.00, and 3) correct classification rates for patients' BP control status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All models of uncontrolled BP were significant (P < 0.001); all odds ratios for the high-vulnerability cluster were greater than 1.00 and significant (P < 0.001). Correct classification rates for the highly-vulnerability cluster on uncontrolled BP after first-line, second-line, or either treatment were 91.1%, 61.2%, and 93.5% for systolic BP; 74.5%, 65.8%, and 76.7% for diastolic BP; and 92.8%, 65.3%, and 94.6% for combined systolic and diastolic BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The heuristic profile of "later, lazier, and unluckier" is an intuitive and valid tool to help identify patients at greater risk for poor BP control seen in general practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA;
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Minkyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vancayzeele
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brié
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van der Niepen
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Macdonald