Risk factor clustering in hypertensive patients: impact of the reports of NCEP-II and second joint task force on coronary prevention on JNC-VI guidelines

Stern N, Grosskopf I, Shapira I, Kisch E, Isaacov A, Limor R, Baz M, Leshem Y, Flatau E, Miller A, Greenman Y (Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv; Kupat Holim Klalit, Tel Aviv; Haemek Hospital, Afula; and Kupat Holim Klalit, Afula, Israel). Risk factor clustering in hypertensive patients: impact of the reports of NCEP-II and second joint task force on coronary prevention on JNC-VI guidelines. J Intern Med 2000; 248: 203–210. Introduction. Although the association of hypertension with established risk factors has been noted in several population studies, the recent redefinition of dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes calls for reassessment of the prevalence and pattern of risk factor clusters in essential hypertension. Objective. To analyse the risk factor profile of Israeli patients with essential hypertension seen by primary care physicians and in hypertension specialty clinics, based on current definitions of dyslipidaemia hypertension and diabetes and JNC-VI guidelines for the assessment of risk factors. Design and Setting. We analysed the risk profile of 324 Israeli hypertensive subjects using the JNC-VI risk table and risk grouping. A total of 122 consecutive patients were recruited from primary care clinics and 212 consecutive patients were recruited from a hospital based hypertension clinic. Results. Amongst hypertensive individuals with no known target organ damage, only 1.5% had no risk factors other than hypertension, whereas all hypertensives with coronary artery disease had additional risk factors. Of the six listed major JNC-VI risk factors (smoking, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, age, sex, family history of cardiovascular disease), hypertensive subjects without coronary artery disease (coronary artery disease-negative) had 3.02 ± 0.10 risk factors, whereas hypertensive subjects with coronary artery disease (coronary artery disease positive) had 3.6 ± 0.07 risk factors other than hypertension (P