Efectividad de una intervención terapéutica en hipertensos con mal control por monitorización ambulatoria de la presión arterial

[Descriptive study of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the Primary Care Nursing clinic]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical characteristics and the circadian patterns of patients who received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) by a Primary Care Team.

METHOD

A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study at community level. People older than 18 years on ABPM (2007-2011).

VARIABLES

demographic, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular risk factors, any type of arterial hypertension and circadian pattern. Intruments of measurement: 2 validated instruments with comparable results were used.

PROCEDURE

The instruments for ABPM were placed during the nursing visit. The instruments were then removed after 24h, and the data was retrieved and recorded in the computerized clinical history.

RESULTS

A total of 326 people were studied, with a mean age of 60.53±12.96 years, of whom 56.7% were male. According to ABPM the patient results showed that: 38.5% had «white coat» arterial hypertension, 36.2% were classified as poorly controlled arterial hypertension, 17.2% had masked hypertension, and 8% with isolated hypertension. Dipper circadian patterns were present in 39.6% of patients and non- dipper in 60.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

ABPM allows to Primary Health Care professionals to check the actual situation of the blood pressure over 24h and analyze the circadian pattern. In clinical practice this involves having a comprehensive care strategy on life style, as well as adherence to treatment.