HYPERTENSION, ADMISSION BLOOD-PRESSURE AND PERIOPERATIVE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

We performed a retrospective case-control study to investigate hyperte nsion and admission blood pressure as risk factors for postoperative c ardiovascular death. We identified records of 76 patients who had died of a cardiovascular cause within 30 days of anaesthesia and elective surgery, and 76 matched controls. From the records of each patient (ca se and control) we recorded the admission blood pressure and derails o f any history of hypertension. A pre-operative history of hypertension was strongly associated with perioperative cardiovascular death (p < 0.001 with one degree of freedom: odds ratio 4.14, 95% confidence inte rvals 1.63-11.69). There was no association between systolic or diasto lic pressure at admission for operation and perioperative cardiovascul ar death. The mean admission systolic pressure of the cases was 145.5 mmHg (range 90-250 mmHg) and that of the controls was 146.5 mmHg (rang e 100-200 mmHg). The mean admission diastolic pressure of the cases wa s 83.2 mmHg (range 60-130 mmHg), and that of the controls was 84.5 mmH g (range 60-110 mmHg).