This is the 8664th most frequent French word.
atroces
Extremely cruel, horrific, or terrible.
Here, 'atroces' is used as an adjective to describe the extreme severity of the sufferings.
Les victimes ont vécu des souffrances atroces.
The victims endured atrocious sufferings.
In this sentence, 'atroces' qualifies 'conditions de vie' to express their appalling and intolerable nature.
Les conditions de vie dans ce camp étaient atroces.
The living conditions in this camp were atrocious.
'Atroces' here modifies 'tension artérielle' to indicate it was abnormally high or problematic.