Is hypertension common in hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients?

OBJECTIVE: To report on the prevalence and implications of hypertension in hospitalized type 2 diabetic patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. METHODS: Relevant data was retrieved from the medical charts of type 2 diabetic patients admitted to the medical unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital in the period between January 1998 and September 1999. Patients' age, sex, body mass index, presence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, degree of glycemic control, reason for admission, duration of hospital stay and mortality were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 427 patients were studied, 46% of whom were hypertensive. Hypertensive diabetics tend to be older, more likely to have a higher body mass index and hyperlipidemia, to develop cardiovascular complications and renal failure, to stay longer in hospital and to have higher mortality compared to normotensive diabetics. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is common in diabetics, early treatment of which is important to prevent cardiovascular complications, to minimize the progression of microvascular complications and to decrease mortality.