Gaisböck syndrome (polycythemia and hypertension) revisited: results from the national inpatient sample database

Background: Polycythemia is characterized by increased blood viscosity and a chronic inflammatory state possibly giving rise to excessive thromboembolic events and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. We aimed to study the relationship between polycythemia and cardiac risk factors using a large national registry. Methods: Patients more than 18 years with a diagnosis of polycythemia were identified from the National Inpatient Sample 2009–2010 database using International Classification of Diseases; Ninth Edition (ICD-9) code 238.4. Demographics, cardiac risk factors, and cardiovascular events were identified. Results: Polycythemia was present in 0.1% (n = 37 922) of hospital-discharged patients. Patients with polycythemia had a significantly increased prevalence of all cardiac risk factors and events, except for diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension was more prevalent in polycythemia compared to controls (61 vs. 46%; P 
Source: Journal of Hypertension - Category: Cardiology Tags: ORIGINAL PAPERS Source Type: research