Prevalence of arterial hypertension in branch retinal vein occlusion patients

OBJETIVOS: Identificar em pacientes com oclusão do ramo da veia central da retina utilizando a monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial e medidas clínicas da pressão arterial: prevalência de hipertensão e o perfil noturno da pressão arterial. MÉTODOS: Prospectivamente, 93 olhos de 83 pacientes com oclusão do ramo da veia central da retina foram submetidos à avaliação oftalmológica. Após, os pacientes foram encaminhados para avaliação clínica e monitorização da pressão arterial. Pacientes sem descenso da pressão durante o sono ("non-dipper") foram definidos como um declínio na pressão arterial sistólica < 10%, e pacientes com descenso presente ("dipper") quando este valor fosse superior. RESULTADOS: A doença acometeu um olho em 73 (88%) pacientes. O ramo temporal superior foi o local da oclusão em 61 (65,6%) olhos, no restante o ramo temporal inferior foi afetado. Setenta e seis (92%) pacientes formam diagnosticados como hipertensos após a avaliação clínica. A monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial identificou 76 hipertensos, 5 normotensos, 1 hipertenso do avental branco e 1 hipertenso mascarado. Estes 2 últimos foram excluídos da análise. Dos 81 pacientes, analisados. Quarenta (49%) eram "dippers" e 41 (51%) "non-dippers". Entre os hipertensos (n=76), 36 (47,4%) eram "dippers" e 40 (52,6%) "non-dippers". CONCLUSÃO: Prevalência de hipertensão arterial em nosso estudo foi extremamente elevada (92,8%), que sugere que a fisiopatologia da doença tem íntima relação com as alterações promovidas pela hipertensão. Pouco mais da metade dos hipertensos eram "non-dipper" (n=40; 52,6%). Estas evidências sugerem que um nível sustentado de pressão arterial possa ser um fator de risco adicional para a oclusão do ramo da veia central da retina.PURPOSE: To identify in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and clinical blood pressure measures: hypertension prevalence, and nocturnal profile of blood pressure. METHODS: Prospectively, 93 eyes of 83 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion were submitted to ophthalmological examination. Afterwards the patients were submitted to clinical evaluation and blood pressure monitoring. Non-dipper was defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure < 10%, and dipper when this value was higher. RESULTS: Disease affected one eye in 73 (88%) patients. The temporal superior branch was the site of occlusion in 61 (65.6%) eyes, while in the others the infero-temporal branch was affected. Seventy six (92%) patients were diagnosed as hypertensive after clinical evaluation. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring identified 76 hipertensives, 5 normotensives, 1 white-coat hypertensive and one masked hypertensive subjects. The two latter were excluded from the analysis. Of the 81 analyzed patients, forty (49%) were dippers and 41 (51%) were non-dippers. Among the HT (n=76), 36 (47%) were dippers and 40 (53%) were non-dippers. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of hypertension in our series was extremely high (92%) which suggests that physiopathology of the disease has a close relationship with changes promoted by hypertension. A little more than half of the hypertensives were non-dippers (n=40; 52,6%). These evidences suggest that a 24-hour sustained level of blood pressure may be an additional risk factor for branch retinal vein occlusion

A pressão arterial está sendo medida?

A medida da pressão arterial faz parte do exame físico e deve ser realizada em toda consulta médica. Para avaliar se a pressão arterial é medida nas consultas médicas, foram consultados 500 prontuários de pacientes de primeira consulta ambulatorial, sendo 335 (67%) provenientes de clínicas médicas e cirúrgicas e 165 (33%) das clínicas ginecológica e obstétrica. A pressão arterial foi anotada em 39% das consultas realizadas (135±32/85±19 mm Hg), sendo que em 11% destas anotações a pressão diastólica estava acima de 90 mm Hg. Em relação ao diagnóstico prévio de hipertensão arterial verificou-se que: a) em 62% dos prontuários não havia esta informação; b) 20% referiram ter hipertensão, e em 79% destes a pressão arterial foi anotada; e c) 18% referiram não ter hipertensão e 46% destes tiveram registro da pressão arterial. Portanto, a maior parte dos pacientes não teve sua pressão arterial anotada.The blood pressure measure is part of the physical exam and it should be accomplished in every medical consultation. To verify the blood pressure measured in the accomplished medical consultations record of first they were consulted it consults 500 patient's ambulatorial being 335 (67%) coming of medical and surgical clinics and 165 (33%) of the gynecological and obstetric clinics. The blood pressure was written down in 39% of the accomplished consultations (135+32 mm Hg 85+19 mm Hg), and 11% of this annotations the pressure diastólica was above 90 mm Hg. In relation to the previous diagnosis of hypertension it was verified that: a) in 62% of the records there was not this information; b) 20% referred to have hypertension, and in 79% of these the arterial pressure was scored; and c) 18% referred not to have hypertension and 46% of these had registration of the arterial pressure. Therefore, most of the patients didn't have its logged arterial pressure

An economic evaluation of antihypertensive therapies based on clinical trials

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension is a major issue in public health, and the financial costs associated with hypertension continue to increase. Cost-effectiveness studies focusing on antihypertensive drug combinations, however, have been scarce. The cost-effectiveness ratios of the traditional treatment (hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol) and the current treatment (losartan and amlodipine) were evaluated in patients with grade 1 or 2 hypertension (HT1-2). For patients with grade 3 hypertension (HT3), a third drug was added to the treatment combinations: enalapril was added to the traditional treatment, and hydrochlorothiazide was added to the current treatment. METHODS: Hypertension treatment costs were estimated on the basis of the purchase prices of the antihypertensive medications, and effectiveness was measured as the reduction in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (in mm Hg) at the end of a 12-month study period. RESULTS: When the purchase price of the brand-name medication was used to calculate the cost, the traditional treatment presented a lower cost-effectiveness ratio [US$/mm Hg] than the current treatment in the HT1-2 group. In the HT3 group, however, there was no difference in cost-effectiveness ratio between the traditional treatment and the current treatment. The cost-effectiveness ratio differences between the treatment regimens maintained the same pattern when the purchase price of the lower-cost medication was used. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the traditional treatment is more cost-effective (US$/mm Hg) than the current treatment in the HT1-2 group. There was no difference in cost-effectiveness between the traditional treatment and the current treatment for the HT3 group

Comparison of the profile of hypertensive patients seen in emergency unit with those receiving outpatient clinic treatment

O estudo comparou 100 hipertensos atendidos no Pronto-socorro com 100 pacientes do Ambulatório. Os hipertensos do Pronto-Socorro foram diferentes (p < 0,05) em relação a: maior pressão arterial; menor renda salarial; maior consumo de bebida alcoólica; não pertenciam à comunidade do hospital; descobriram ser hipertensos por sentirem-se mal; mediram menos a pressão; e deixaram de tomar mais medicamentos. A análise multivariada revelou diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos quanto à renda, ao local onde é medida a pressão e não tomar os medicamentos. Concluiu-se que características desfavoráveis podem contribuir para não realizar o tratamento anti-hipertensivo, levando a atendimentos em unidades de emergência.Este estudio comparó 100 hipertensos atendidos en un servicio de emergencia, con 100 pacientes de consulta externa. Los hipertensos de emergencia fueron diferentes (pThis study compares 100 hypertensive patients in emergency units with those who were seen in outpatient clinics. Hypertensive patients seen at the emergency unit showed to be different (p < 0.05) from those seen at the outpatient clinic regarding: higher blood pressure; lower income; not belonging to the hospital community; greater alcohol intake; became aware of their hypertension because felt bad; measured blood pressure less often; did not take the medicine more often. In conclusion, unfavorable characteristics can contribute to hypertensive patients who do not follow anti-hypertension treatment adequately, leading to care in emergency units

Blood Pressure Measurements Taken by Patients are Similar to Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements

OBJECTIVE: To compare blood pressure measurements taken at home by physicians, nurses, and patients with office blood pressure measurement , ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure measurement. METHODS: A total of 44 patients seen by a home care program were studied. Protocol 1 a) blood pressure was measured by the patient, a physician and a nurse during a regular home visit (Home1); b) home blood pressure measurement was measured for 4 days (HBPM1); c) office blood pressure measurement was measured by a physician, a nurse, and the patient; and by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Protocol 2 blood pressure was measured by the patient, a physician, and a nurse during a special home visit in the presence of a physician and a nurse only (Home2); and b) home blood pressure measurement was taken for the second time (HBPM2). Echocardiography, guided by a two-dimensional echocardiograph, was performed. RESULTS: Protocol 1: a) office blood pressure measurement and Home1 were significantly higher than ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, except for systolic and diastolic office blood pressure measurement taken by the patient or a family member, systolic blood pressure taken by a nurse, and diastolic blood pressure taken by a physician. b) ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and HBPM1 were similar. Protocol 2: a) HBPM2 and Home2 were similar. b) Home2 was significantly lower than Home1, except for diastolic blood pressure taken by a nurse or the patient. There were significant relationships between: a) diastolic blood pressure measured by the patient and the thickness of the interventricular septum, posterior wall, and left ventricular mass; and b) ambulatory and HBPM2 diastolic and systolic blood pressure taken by a physician (home2) and left ventricular mass. Therefore, the data indicate that home blood pressure measurement and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring had good prognostic values relative to "office measurement." CONCLUSION: This study showed that the measurement most similar to home blood pressure measurement and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was blood pressure measured by the patient, and that home blood pressure measurement and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring had good prognostic value relative to "office measurements"

The healthcare area professionals' knowledge of blood pressure measurement

Avaliou-se o conhecimento teórico e prático de 110 auxiliares de enfermagem, 44 médicos e 25 enfermeiros, por meio de 15 questões de múltipla escolha e pela observação do procedimento da medida da pressão arterial. O percentual de acerto quanto ao conhecimento teórico foi de 32%±12% para os auxiliares de enfermagem, 44%±14% para os enfermeiros e 56%±13% para os médicos, sendo que todos foram estatisticamente diferentes entre si (pSe evaluó el conocimiento teórico y práctico de 110 auxiliares de enfermería, 44 médicos y 25 enfermeros, por medio de 15 preguntas de opciones múltiples y por la observación del procedimiento de la médida de la presión arterial. El porcentaje de acierto en cuanto al conocimiento teórico fue de 32%±12% para los auxiliares de enfermería, 44%±14% para los enfermeros y 56%±13% para los médicos, siendo que todos fuerón estadistícamente diferentes entre si (p< 0,05). En cuanto al conocimiento práctico, este fue de 41%±6% para los auxiliares de enfermería, 44%±10% para los enfermeros y 50%±12% para los médicos, siendo que los médicos presentarón resultados significativamente superiores (pThis study investigated the theoretical and technical knowledge of blood pressure measurement from 110 nursing assistants, 44 physicians and 25 nurses by answering to a questionnaire and practical knowledge through the observation of the blood pressure measurement procedure. In the theoretical knowledge the three categories showed statistically significant differences (

Reasons for Resubmission of Research Projects to the Research Ethics Committee of a University Hospital in SÃO Paulo, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: It is important to know the reasons for resubmitting research projects to the Research Ethics Committee in order to help researchers to prepare their research projects, informed consent forms and needed research documentation. OBJECTIVES: To verify the reasons for resubmitting projects that were previously rejected by the Ethics Committee. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated research projects involving human beings. Research projects were submitted in 2007 to the Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred and fifty six research projects were submitted to the ethics committee and the average time for evaluating the research projects and related documents until a final decision was reached was 49.95 days. From the total, 399 projects were reviewed in 2 or more meetings until a final decision was reached. Of these, 392 research projects were included in the study; 35 projects were subsequently excluded for involving animals. Among the research projects included, 42.5% concerned research with new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests, 48.5% consisted of undergraduate students' research projects, 68.9% of the research had no sponsorship, and 97.5% were eventually approved. The main reasons for returning the projects to the researchers were the use of inadequate language and/or difficulty of understanding the informed consent form (32.2%), lack of information about the protocol at the informed consent form (25.8%), as well as doubts regarding methodological and statistical issues of the protocol (77.1%). Other reasons for returning the research projects involved lack of, inaccuracy on or incomplete documentation, need of clarification or approval for participation of external entities on the research, lack of information on financial support. CONCLUSION: Among the research projects that were returned to the researchers for additional clarification, the main reasons were inadequacies or doubts about the terms used in the informed consent form as well as lack of information regarding the research at the informed consent form and methodological and statistical issues regarding the protocol