CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH INADEQUATE BLOOD-PRESSURE CONTROL

The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients with inadequate blood pressure control. This Study is part of the Finnish Medspeed Study, the main ob jective of which is to render the management of hypertensive patients more effective. The subjects of the study consisted of 1,156 men 30-69 years of Edge, whose pressure was inadequately controlled (diastolic blood pressure 95-114 mm Hg) in spite of antihypertensive drug therapy . More than one-third of both men (36.2%) and women (35.2%) were found to have a high cholesterol level (greater than or equal to 6.5 mmol/L ). Of the men, 22.8% and of the women, 14.2% were smokers. Single meas urement yielded an elevated blood glucose concentration (greater than or equal to 6.7 mmol/L) in 8.7% of the men and 8.5% of the women. Of t he men, 36.4% and of the women, 41.8% were at Beast moderately overwei ght (body mass index greater than or equal to 30.0 kg/m(2)). The study showed that risk factors that especially increase the likelihood of c oronary heart disease as well as obesity, which contributes to high bl ood pressure, are common findings among Finnish hypertensive patients with inadequate blood pressure control.