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 estimate absolute risk in a group of elderly hypertensive patients during clinical practice. Risk was correctly estimated in 21% of patients, underestimated in 63% of patients, and overestimated in 16% of patients. Unless primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk charts or tables, treatment decisions in primary care may not be made against realistic estimates of patients' susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes