THE PARADOX BETWEEN "WHAT YOU SAY AND WHAT YOU DO"

The cognitive (Cog) disorder or dementia (Dm) is most frequent in arterial hypertension patients. The clinicians (CLI) and cardiologists (CAR) plays an important role in detecting these pathologies with anticipation. The aim of this study was: 1) to evaluate the CLI and CAR knowledge about the relationship between hypertension (HT), Cog disorders and Dm; 2) to know the methods applied in diagnostic, prevention, and treatment in the practice-office assistants. Material and method. A simple questionnaire, eight questions with closed answers was sent by e-mail to CLI/CAR (n = 398). The questions were clustered in three items: epidemiologic, diagnostic and treatment. The answers remained anonymous. Results. One hundred forty three physicians (n = 67 CLI and n = 76 CAR) answered the questionnaire (35%). Female: 49% (average age 31 +/- 11 yrs), 42,8% CAR, and male: 63% CAR (average age 41 +/- 12.2 yrs). The 97.9% considered the link between HT, Cog and Dm existent, and 98.5% claimed they should know the cognitive state of their patients. The 34.2% always carries out cognitive evaluations, the 46% in special cases, and the 19.7% never does. The Mini Mental Statement Examination (MMSE) is used by 32.8%, the drow clock test by 5.2% and 30.2% others. The 22.3% applies depression's score for screening. The 25% considers the HT treatment in older without risk, but others consider risk is mild (57.8%) and moderate (15.7%). There were no behaviour differences between CLI and CAR, or between genders, except in the treatment of hypertensive patients with Cog or Dm: the CAR considered the treatment of HT delays the progression and it's different respect to CLI (p < 0.05). Conclusions. 1) Everybody agrees on the fact that HT is a cause of Cog impairment and/or Dm. 2) Only 3/10 physicians often carries out cognitive evaluations. 3) Only 25% hardly treat HT despite knowing this practice delays the progression of vascular brain damage.