Epidemiology of newly diagnosed hypertensives in a tertiary care hospital in a developing country

Hypertension Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Adult Hypertensive Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka

Objective

Hypertension (HTN) remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases globally. Despite considerable improvement in increasing awareness, treatment, and control of HTN, undiagnosed and uncontrolled HTN remains a major public health challenge. Our focus was on studying the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HTN in adult hypertensive patients at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. Methodology. A descriptive study on knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertensive patients on antihypertensive medications attending the hypertensive clinic was carried out from January 2016 to June 2016 at THP.

Results

The study was on a total of 371 hypertensive patients comprising 253 (68.2%) females and 118 (31.8%) males. Among the total participants, 12 (3.2%), all females, had never been to school. About half of them (47.7%) had not even reached GCE (ordinary level). More than two-thirds (77%) of the study population were aware of the complications of HTN as they were informed by a health care team member. About 74% of them were taking all their prescribed medications. Almost all (95%) patients had checked their blood pressure (BP) during the previous 12 months, and almost the same percentage had visited their doctor for BP checkups every 1-3 months.

Conclusion

Our patients were well aware of the importance of regular follow-ups and also knowledgeable about the complications related to HTN. Almost 75% of the patients had optimum drug compliance. It was revealed that forgetfulness was the frequent cause for poor drug compliance.

Analysis and identification of symptoms and risk factors in a cohort of chronic hypertensive patients in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HT) is identified as a highly prevalent cardiovascular risk factor and also as a separate disease entity, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. The rate of HT is increasing worldwide with a faster rate identified in developing countries. Thus, it is important to evaluate epidemiological patterns of chronic HT in a developing country like Sri Lanka.

METHODOLOGY

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, to assess symptoms and risk factors among patients with chronic HT.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 266 chronic hypertensives, the mean values for age of population, age of onset, and duration of HT, respectively, are 63, 45, and 8 years. At presentation, 24.8% were asymptomatic. The commonest presentation at diagnosis was dizziness accounting for 33.8% cases, followed by chest pain, headache, loss of consciousness, and shortness of breath accounting for 7.5%, 13.5%, 2.6%, and 4.5%, respectively. Approximately 36.5% of patients had a positive family history. Fathers of 7.1% patients, mothers of 19.2%, and both parents of 10.2% patients had HT. 38.7% of patients had one or more siblings with HT. 34.6% had diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

Symptoms of those with HT are mostly nonspecific and should be considered as possible warning signs prior to the development of sinister complications of the disease. Family history of HT with affected siblings, or one of the parents, was, observed in more than one-third of patients. Early screening and prevention of modifiable risk factors are important in these patients to prevent debilitating complications.