Estimation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients in primary care

Assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk is a rational method of managing hypertension. General practitioners and practice nurses were asked to esti mate absolute risk in a group of elderly hypertensive patients during clini cal practice. Risk was correctly estimated in 21% of patients, underestimat ed in 63% of patients, and overestimated in 16% of patients. Unless primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk charts or tables, treatm ent decisions in primary care may not be made against realistic estimates o f patients' susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.