[Access to the emergency service by clients with hypertensive crisis in a hospital in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil].

A hypertensive crisis is a sudden and symptomatic elevation of blood pressure at risk of acute deterioration of target organs. Although the prevalence in the literature of the burden is 1%, the risk of complications and death associated with the problem of health in the emergency services have revealed the need for deeper issues related to access to the service of health. It is a quantitative and descriptive research, held in a public hospital Fortaleza city, between April and July of 2006, with 118 patients. The results show that people with hypertensive crisis has sought health services, especially the emergency, in order to get care. The study indicates access as a key element in meeting the needs of users who seek the services of health, and the waiting time, the resolution and the reception, important parameters on the quality of care.