[Prevention of cardiovascular diseases by an antihypertensive program in the elderly, a cohort study]

We started on year 2000 a Complex Intervention Program addressed at hypertension control among our patients.

To compare the risk of cardiovascular events and of dying in hypertensive patients under Program care.

We started follow-up of a cohort of 1922 patients over 65 years in August 2000. Hipertension diagnosis was ascertained if patient reported to be hypertensive, or was under anti hypertensive treatment or if he/she had two blood pressure measurements = 140/90 mm Hg. Cardiovascular events were considered to be admissions due to coronary disease, cardiac insufficiency or stroke. Incidence is reported by 100 person years follow-up. Relative risks between hypertensive and normotensive patients were calculated and Cox regresión was used to adjust for potential confounders. We compared time to first cardiovascular event and to death with Log Rank Test.

Fourty eight point three percent of patients were hypertensive and differed from normotensive patients as to age (79 (5) years vs. 77 (5) p < 0.001), proportion of diabetic patients (16.1% vs. 7.6% p < 0.001). Mean follow-up time was 28 months. Mortality RR was 1.04 (95% CI 0.69-1.58). As to incidence of cardiovascular events it was 1.86 in normotensive vs. 3.02 (RR 1.62 95% CI 1.09-2.42). When adjusted by age, sex, smoking, dislipemia and diabetes, OR was 1.3 (95% CI 0.86-1.98).

Hypertension did not increase the risk in cardiovascular events among our hypertensive patients at 2.3 years follow-up.