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Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickening by different criteria in a representative sample of hypertensive patients referred to a Hypertension Clinic. Methods: Echocardiograms and ultrasonographic carotid examinations were performed by two highly trained physicians in 480 (250 F, 230 M, age 51Ϯ12 vs) consecutive hypertensives referred to our outpatients hypertension unit. LVH was diagnosed using three different criteria: when LVMI (Left Ventricular Mass Index) exceeded a) 100 g/m 2 in females and 120 g/m 2 in males; b) 110 g/m 2 in females and 125 g/m 2 in males; c) 125 g/m 2 in both sexes. CCA IM thickening was identified using three partition values: when IM thickening was d) Ն0.7 mm; e) Ն0.8 mm; f) Ն0.9 mm in both sexes. Results: Echocardiographic and ultrasonographic examinations of sufficient quality to be analysed were obtained in 445 patients (92.7%) with identical demographic and clinical characteristics of the whole population. Prevalence of LVH ranged from 17% (c) to 31% (a) and was higher in females by criteria a and b but higher in males when using criteria c. Eccentric hypertrophy was more frequent independently of the criteria used. Prevalence of CCA IM thickening ranged from 19% (f) to 41% (d). A significant correlation between LVMI and CCA IM thickening was found (rϭ0.41; pϽ0.01). Conclusion:The prevalence of LVH and CCA IM thickening in hypertensive patients is markedly dependent on the threshold values used to define these expressions of target organ damage. Considering the pivotal role of LVH and CCA IM thickening in assessing global cardiovascular risk profile in hypertensives, improved standardization in defining LVH and carotid IM thickening is needed. We evaluated 2597 adolescents, 12 to 18 years old (1283 females) from High Schools in Buenos Aires. All subjects completed a record at home, with personal and family history. Weight, height, waist and hip were measured without shoes and in light clothes. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured twice in the sitting position. 36% of these adolescents had never had their blood pressure measured. Percentiles obtained were similar to those of the Task Force. 6.4% of females and 11.3% of males had their blood pressures Ն 95 th Percentile, and 9.9% and 8.7% between 90 and 95 th P, respectively. Blood pressure had a significant correlation with weight, height, waist and hip (pϽ0.0001). Adolescents offspring of hypertensive parents have an ORϭ1.58 of having blood pressureϾ95 th P (95% CI: 1.15 to 2.16). 6.4% of females and 6.2% of males were obese (BMIՆ95P) and 13% and 17% respectevily were overweighed (BMI between 85 and 95P). (Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 1995;88: 1179 -81). The purpose of this community-based study was the evaluation, by means of ambulatory monitoring, of adequate BP control in elderly hypertensives living in a European urban area.General practitioners (family doctors) were invited to send to our institution drug-treated elderl...

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