Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of death worldwide, and several modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors contribute to this burden of disability and mortality. Thus, effective cardiovascular prevention relies on appropriate strategies to control risk factors within the frame of unmodifiable traits.
Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of treated hypertensive adults aged ≥ 50 years enrolled in Save Your Heart. CVD risk and hypertension control rates based on the 2021 updated European Society of Cardiology guidelines were evaluated. Comparisons with previous standards in terms of risk stratification and hypertension control rates were performed.
Results: Among the 512 patients evaluated, with the application of the new parameters for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular risk assessment, the proportion of individuals at high or very high risk rises from 48.7 to 77.1% of cases. A trend towards lower hypertension control rates was observed based on 2021 European guidelines compared with the 2018 edition (likelihood estimate for difference: 1.76%, 95% CI - 4.1 to 7.6%, p = 0.589).
Conclusions: In this secondary analysis on the Save Your Heart study, the application of the new parameters reported in the European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention 2021 showed a hypertensive population with a very high probability of encountering a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event due to failure to control risk factors. For this reason, a better management of risk factors must be the main goal for the patient and all the involved stakeholders.
Keywords: Elderly; Guideline adherence; Heart disease risk factors; Hypertension.
© 2023. The Author(s).