Characterization of patients in an arterial hypertension consultation in Dosquebradas, Risaralda, Colombia, 2008-2012

The objective was to describe the characteristics of patients evaluated at the high blood pressure consultation of the Hospital Santa Monica, Dosquebradas, Risaralda,Colombia, attended between 2008-2012. Observational, descriptive study realized in the Hospital Santa Monica,Dosquebradas, Risaralda, Colombia. The patients comes from the population attended at the hypertension screening program with suspected disease who were admitted to the Hospital with high blood pressure diagnosis. We evaluated demographic and clinical variables, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, among others. Results: From a total of 8 900 patients with blood pressure assessment in the period, were attended on average 1 780 per year (± 934), the average per month during the period was 148 patients (range 93-286). Of the patients 73.3 % were female and 26.7 % male. The average age of them was 62.91 years (± 13.09). Of the patients, 92.57.% (95 % CI 92.02-93.12) had values of prehypertension / hypertension, being higher in women≥70 years (93.7 %) than in women <70 years (92.1 %) (OR = 1.269; 95 % CI 1.026-1.569). There were no significant differences by age in male patients. This study allowed us to characterize a population of nearly 9 000 patients who were attended at the reference hospital of municipality for five years, of which there are no previous studies that show a considerable proportionof the population with blood pressure changes , especially in women over 70 years.