[Predictors of increased cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients in frontline facilities in Sousse, Tunisia]

We assessed cardiovascular risk factors among 456 hypertensive patients in 7 health centers in Sousse. Cardiovascular risk was estimated according World Health Organization centres Mean age was 65.6 [SD = 9.8] years, male: female sex ratio was 0.18. Cardiovascular recommendations risk was not influenced by sex, age or residence. However, patients with longer duration of hypertension and more frequent co- morbidity had a significantly higher cardiovascular risk. In addition 45.9% of patients on monotherapy had high cardiovascular risk compared with 40.6% of those treated with 2 or more drugs [P = 0.02]. Non- compliance was not found to be associated with high risk