EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HYPERTENSION IN 061 EMERGENCY SYSTEM OF GALICIA: PP.28.120

Abstract

Objectives: Galicia is an autonomous region situated in the northwest of Spain. Most of the emergencies treated outside hospitals are attended trough the 061 phone system, consisting of a Coordination Station situated in Santiago de Compostela, where all the emergency calls are answered. The objective of this study is to describe the situation of emergencies due to high blood pressure evaluated through this centralized 061 emergency system along 2008. Methods: Descriptive and longitudinal retrospective study (January 1 to December 31, 2008). The population under investigation consisted on patients from Galicia who demanded medical assistance or advice by phone due to high blood pressure. The study variables were age, gender, time of day of the consultation, monthly distribution and resolution of the consultation. Results: 1912 consultations by phone associated to high blood pressure emergencies. Women did more consultations (1323, 69%). The age that more attendances required was that of those over 80 years (670 patients). The most calls were received was from 20:00 to 21:59 hours (357 patients). March was the month with the highest number of calls (212 calls). Among the total consultations performed through the centralized 061 system, 53% (1058) were solved by a physician over the phone without mobilization of resources, 41% (802) were derived to a clinical center in ambulance, 3% were solved by a domiciliary visit of the physician and nurse, and the remaining 3% required the mobilization of a doctor and an ambulance equipped with life support system. Conclusions: The assistance given by phone through the 061 system in Galicia to the patients who suffer from high blood pressure is very important, since the number of consultations for a hypertensive problem is elevated. A high percentage of these emergency calls are solved over the phone with the advice and indications provided by the attending physician. The high number of consultations might indicate that hypertensive patients are neither properly controlled nor well informed about their condition and treatment.