title: New cardiovascular risk factors and their use for an accurate cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertensive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the predictive value of new cardiovascular (CV) risk factors for CV risk assessment in the adult Romanian hypertensive (HT) population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertensive adults aged between 40-65 years of age, identified in national representative SEPHAR II survey were evaluated by anthropometric, BP and arterial stiffness measurements: aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), aortic augmentation index (AIXao), revers time (RT) and central systolic blood pressure (SBPao), 12 lead ECGs and laboratory workup. Values above the 4th quartile of mean SBP' standard deviation (s.d.) defined increased BP variability. Log(TG/HDL-cholesterol) defined atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Serum uric acid levels above 5.70 mg/dl for women and 7.0 mg/dl for males defined hyperuricemia (HUA). CV risk was assessed based on SCORE chart for high CV risk countries. Binary logistic regression using a stepwise likelihood ratio method (adjustments for major confounders and colliniarity analysis) was used in order to validate predictors of high and very high CV risk class.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean SBP value of the study group was 148.46±19.61 mmHg. Over forty percent of hypertensives had a high and very high CV risk. Predictors of high/very high CV risk category validated by regression analysis were: increased visit-to-visit BP variability (OR: 2.49; 95%CI: 1.67-3.73), PWVao (OR: 1.12; 95%CI: 1.02-1.22), RT (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98), SBPao (OR: 1.01; 95%CI: 1.01-1.03) and AIP (OR: 7.08; 95%CI: 3.91-12.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggests that the new CV risk factors such as increased BP variability, arterial stiffness indices and AIP are useful tools for a more accurate identification of hypertensives patients at high and very high CV risk.
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Oana-Florentina
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Tautu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Darabont
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onciul
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deaconu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Comanescu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Radu Dan
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Andrei
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dragoescu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinteza
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania ; Department of Cardiology, Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorobantu