To investigate a relative risk of cardiovascular complications in uncomplicated hypertensive crises (UHC) in hypertensive patients.
A questionnaire retrospective case-control study covered one-third of patients registered in the data base of a hospital or outpatient clinic. The patients were matched by basic characteristics. By frequency of UHC the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 305) comprised patients with frequent (weekly or more often) UHC, group 2 (n = 558) consisted of patients with rare UHC (monthly or less frequent).
Patients of group 1 had a longer history of arterial hypertension (13 +/- 9 years vs 9 +/- 7.8 years, p 0.05).
Frequent UHC raise the risk of non-fatal acute disorder of cerebral circulation, chronic cardiac failure, ischemia and left ventricular hypertrophy. Frequency of UHC is not related to the risk of myocardial infarction.