Prevalence of Newly Diagnosed Essential Hypertension in Patients of Bhuj, Kutch- A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Hypertension is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths. Hypertension is present in 25% of adults and increases in prevalence with age. The aim of the present study is to describe the overall clinical profile of newly diagnosed essential hypertension subjects in order to recognize this condition as early as possible.
Material and Method: Sixty five recently diagnosed essential hypertensive patients attending the medicine OPD or admitted to the medical wards of formed the study group. Thirty healthy people were kept as controls. Patient’s height and weight were measured. The body mass index was calculated using the formula weight / height.2 Blood pressure was recorded by taking two readings, separated by as much time as practical.
Results: Among 95 subjects studied, 65 were cases (Hypertensive) and 30 were controls (Normotensive). There was no statistical significance in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the cases. Difference in BMI between cases and controls was statistically significant (p?0.05) and independent of gender, but it was significantly more in those with grade II hypertension.
Conclusion: BMI was significantly more in those with stage II hypertension however it was independent of gender. The blood pressure correlated positively with BMI and waist circumference. The most frequent presenting symptom was giddiness.