OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical significance and the prognostic value of taking the pulse in the general elderly population. DESIGN: Transversal descriptive study between June and October 2000 within primary care.Participants. A simple randomised sample of 415 people was obtained from the population aged 60 or over (n=8,026) from sixteen lists of six health centres in Asturias. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Demographic variables and cardiovascular risk factors were analysed and the presence of associated cardiovascular pathology was investigated. The analysis divided blood pressure at the pulse into terciles. RESULTS: 338 people (18.5% losses), with an average age of 73+/-7, 64% of whom were women, were included. The SP and DP means were 140+/-18 and 80+/-8 mm Hg, respectively. The pulse pressure terciles were: tercile 1, (3/4)51 mm Hg, tercile 2, 52-65 mm Hg and tercile 3, >=66 mm Hg. Those in tercile 3 were older than those in tercile 1 (P<.001) and had higher SP figures (P<.001). Tercile 3 was linked to greater prevalence of Hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension and worse control of hypertension; and also to greater prevalence of ischaemic cardiopathy (P=.018) and of overall cardiovascular pathology (P=.005). After logistical regression analysis, pulse pressure persisted as an independent variable (P=.017). CONCLUSIONS: Among the elderly as a whole, blood pressure at the pulse is an independent marker of cardiovascular risk.
OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical significance and the prognostic value of taking the pulse in the general elderly population. DESIGN: Transversal descriptive study between June and October 2000 within primary care.Participants. A simple randomised sample of 415 people was obtained from the population aged 60 or over (n=8,026) from sixteen lists of six health centres in Asturias. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Demographic variables and cardiovascular risk factors were analysed and the presence of associated cardiovascular pathology was investigated. The analysis divided blood pressure at the pulse into terciles. RESULTS: 338 people (18.5% losses), with an average age of 73+/-7, 64% of whom were women, were included. The SP and DP means were 140+/-18 and 80+/-8 mm Hg, respectively. The pulse pressure terciles were: tercile 1, (3/4)51 mm Hg, tercile 2, 52-65 mm Hg and tercile 3, >=66 mm Hg. Those in tercile 3 were older than those in tercile 1 (P<.001) and had higher SP figures (P<.001). Tercile 3 was linked to greater prevalence of Hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension and worse control of hypertension; and also to greater prevalence of ischaemic cardiopathy (P=.018) and of overall cardiovascular pathology (P=.005). After logistical regression analysis, pulse pressure persisted as an independent variable (P=.017). CONCLUSIONS: Among the elderly as a whole, blood pressure at the pulse is an independent marker of cardiovascular risk.
Authors: A Benetos; M Zureik; J Morcet; F Thomas; K Bean; M Safar; P Ducimetière; L Guize Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2000-03-01 Impact factor: 24.094