PP.21.05] PREVALENCE OF ASYMMETRICAL BLOOD PRESSURE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Estimate the prevalence of asymmetrical blood pressure (BP) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients in daily community medical practice, and analyze its association with the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Design and method: Observational and descriptive cross sectional study conducted among 68 liberal and hospital cardiologists in the first term of 2016 in Tizi-ouzou and Bejaia areas (Algeria). The investigation focused on hypertensive patients treated with a combination of 2 or 3 antihypertensive drugs at a stable dose for at least 3 months. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as BP superior or equal to 140 /90 mmHg under treatment. Asymmetrical BP was defined as a between-arm difference in systolic BP superior or equal to 15 mm Hg. Results: uncontrolled patients were included. The mean age of the population was 64 ± 11 years, with 56.4% of men. The proportions of diabetes, Dyslipidemia, persistent smoking, or history of major cardiovascular events were 34.5%, 41.7%, 16.2% and 23.6% respectively. Asymmetrical BP was present in 21.4% of the patients, and in a multiple regression analysis, was significantly associated with subclinical target organ damage [OR: 1.7 (1.3–1.9)], stroke [OR: 1.8 (1.2–2.3) and acute coronary syndrome [OR: 1.7 (1.4–2.5)]. Conclusions: asymmetrical BP is frequent in uncontrolled hypertensive patients and could help to identify patients at high cardiovascular risk.