Hypertension Urgency in a Hospital Emergency Service

Objective: The aim of this study is to know the percentage of patients who are discharged with Blood Pressure levels in safe ranges after a hypertensive urgency and what is the most frequent range of SBP in these patients. Design and method: It is a observational, retrospective study where all clinical histories of patients over 18 years old attended during a period of 8 months in a Hospital Emergency Service, with the diagnostic of Hypertensive crisis, were reviewed. Patients with history of Major Cardiovascular Events (Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary edema and aortic dissection), hypertensive pseudocrisis, patients with decreases in blood pressure levels who had been treated in primary care or at home and who did not need further hypotensive treatment, were excluded. The data obteined were: Sex, age, Sysolic and Diastolic levels at the begining and at the discharge. The proportion of patients with a decrease in Systolic Blood Pressure less than 160 mmHg or woth a decrease of more than 20% of their initial levels, were calculated. Although, the mos frequent levels of Systolic Blood Pressure. Results: Of 457 Clinic histories reviewed, 351 were included. Participants median age was 68 (±13,8) years old, 62% were female. The 50% of patients arrived to the hospital with SBP between 180-200mmHg. The 62% of patients were discharged with a decrease of SBP equal or more than 20% of their initial SBP. Only the 20% decreased their SBP between 20-25% that some guides recommend, 42% decreased more than 25%. When datas were analized repect to the measure of SBP less than 160mmHg the result was 60% Conclusions: There is a 40% of patients who are not discharged with safe ranges of Systolic Blood Pressure. Therefore, there is a long way to go to improve these results.