Target organ damage and cardiovascular risk factors among subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of target organ damage in previously undiagnosed hypertension.

Design: Cross-sectional population survey.

Methods: We measured ankle-brachial index (ABI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), electrocardiographically determined left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH), and cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension (n = 138) and normotensive (n = 440) risk subjects, who had metabolic syndrome, glucose disorders, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) or a 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease death of 5% or more according to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system. None of the subjects had established cardiovascular or renal disease or previously diagnosed diabetes.

Results: There was no difference (p = 0.68) among the studied age-groups in the prevalence of previously undiagnosed hypertension, and no interaction (p = 0.10) was found between sex and age groups. Evidence of subclinical organ damage defined as ECG-LVH, ABI ≤ 0.90, or eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) were found in 22% of the subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension, and 8% of the non-hypertensive risk persons (p < 0.001). The prevalence of renal insufficiency did not differ between the study groups. Majority of the subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension also have multiple cardiometabolic risk factors.

Conclusions: Among subjects with previously undiagnosed hypertension, one in five patients had evidence of subclinical target organ damage, and three in four patients may be regarded as having high cardiovascular risk.