Progression of Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Hypertensive Patients in a Reference Center

Background

Hypertension is a public health problem, considering its high prevalence, lowcontrol rate and cardiovascular complications.

Objective

Evaluate the control of blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular outcomes inpatients enrolled at the Reference Center for Hypertension and Diabetes, locatedin a medium-sized city in the Midwest Region of Brazil.

Methods

Population-based study comparing patients enrolled in the service at the time oftheir admission and after an average follow-up of five years. Participants wereaged ≥18 years and were regularly monitored at the Center up to 6 monthsbefore data collection. We assessed demographic variables, BP, body mass index,risk factors, and cardiovascular outcomes.

Results

We studied 1,298 individuals, predominantly women (60.9%), and with mean age of56.7±13.1 years. Over time, there was a significant increase in physicalinactivity, alcohol consumption, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and excessive weight. Asfor cardiovascular outcomes, we observed an increase in stroke and myocardialrevascularization, and a lower frequency of chronic renal failure. Duringfollow-up, there was significant improvement in the rate of BP control (from 29.6%to 39.6%; p = 0.001) and 72 deaths, 91.7% of which were due to cardiovasculardiseases.

Conclusion

Despite considerable improvements in the rate of BP control during follow-up, riskfactors worsened and cardiovascular outcomes increased.