[The relation between hypertension and cerebrovascular accidents].

In 1984, ictus patients were hospitalized at the neurological department of the Regional Hospital, Ustí n. Labem, Czechoslovakia. This group included 70% hypertensive patients and 30% normotensives. The diagnosis was determined through direct blood pressure measuring in 71% of them, 26% were diagnosed with the aid of anamnesis and clinical records, and 2.5% were determined on the basis of ECG, eyeground changes or echocardiography. Only 56% of the followed-up patients were found to have signs of hypertrophy and left ventricular overload. The hypertensive patients, both living and dead, were found to have the frequency of clinically manifest ischaemic heart disease significantly higher than the normotensives. The five-year follow-up of hypertensive ictus patients showed a 38.5% death rate, but only 21.7% in normotensives, the average age of both groups being the same. Insufficient follow-up care of hypertensive ictus patients was found in 26% cases.