Essential Hypertension among Egyptian Adults

Background: hypertensive diseases represent a major disease burden in Egypt. The prevalence of hypertension in Egypt in 2008 among adults of age ≥ 25 was 17.6%. In 60% of patients, hypertension is usually associated with cardiovascular risk factors. This leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Management of hypertension in Egypt is not easy because of treatment costs and inefficient primary health care system. There is a need for developing national hypertension guidelines to improve the rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension with the final goal of preventing and decreasing mortality and morbidity. Aim of work: to assess the essential hypertension status among the Egyptian adult population of age≥ 25 and to study the modifiable social and environmental risk factors, health consequences, and assess the cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular complications to help disease prevention and limitation of complications. Patients and methods: this study was conducted on 312 patients of age ≥ 25 with essential hypertension. All patient were subjected to full medical history and physical examination that including measurement of blood pressure (BP) and fundus examination. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, waist circumferences, and hip circumferences were also measured. Waist to hip ratio and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Laboratory investigations were performed including complete blood count (CBC), fasting blood glucose, measurement of creatinine, uric acid and lipid profile. Microalbuminuria was also assessed. Other investigations including electrocardiogram and echocardiograph were done. Results: Male patients were 134(42.9%), while females were 178(57.1%). Their ages ranged from 30 to 85 years with a mean ±SD of 55.16±9.4years.Dyslipidemia was found in 152 (49%) patients.  Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was represented in160 (51%) patients. Uncontrolled BP was represented in (73%), (66%) and (55%) of non-educated, mild to moderate educated and high educated patients respectively. Retinopathy was found in 121 (38.8%) patients, 76 (60%) patients were hypertensive diabetic and 45 (24%) patients were hypertensive non-diabetic. Albumin in urine was present in 20%of patients. Conclusion: strategies that enhance public awareness of hypertension and increase access to affordable medications are urgently needed. Prevention of hypertension needs both a population strategy and an intensive strategy focused on individuals at high risk. The complications of hypertension can be prevented by adequate blood pressure control with screening programs to identify the population at risk