PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A A Montgomery
AU  - T Fahey
AU  - C MacKintosh
AU  - D J Sharp
AU  - T J Peters
TI  - Estimation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients in primary care.
DP  - 2000 Feb 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 127--128
VI  - 50
IP  - 451
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/50/451/127.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/50/451/127.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2000 Feb 01; 50
AB  - Assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk is a rational method of managing hypertension. General practitioners and practice nurses were asked to estimate absolute risk in a group of elderly hypertensive patients during clinical practice. Risk was correctly estimated in 21% of patients, underestimated in 63% of patients, and overestimated in 16% of patients. Unless primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk charts or tables, treatment decisions in primary care may not be made against realistic estimates of patients' susceptibility to cardiovascular disease.