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Serum Calcium Levels in Patients with Essential Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital of
T Bhattacharjee1, R A Begum, M N I Matin
1Dr Tanusree Bhattacharjee, Lecturer of Physiology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College (SMAGOMC), Sylhet, Bangladesh;
Insights
Essential hypertension patients have lower serum calcium levels compared to healthy individuals. This study found a significant inverse relationship between serum calcium and blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Essential hypertension's etiology is not fully understood.
- Serum calcium levels are hypothesized to play a role in hypertension development.
- Existing evidence suggests a potential causal link between serum calcium and essential hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum calcium levels in patients with essential hypertension.
- To compare serum calcium levels between hypertensive patients and a healthy control group.
- To explore the correlation between serum calcium and blood pressure in essential hypertension.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.
- Participants included 62 hypertensive patients and 62 age-sex matched healthy controls.
- Serum calcium levels were measured using an automated chemistry analyzer; blood pressure was measured by auscultation.
Main Results:
- Hypertensive patients exhibited significantly lower mean serum calcium levels (8.59±0.55 mg/dl) compared to normotensive controls (9.12±0.93 mg/dl) (p < 0.001).
- A statistically significant difference in mean blood pressure was observed between the groups (p < 0.001).
- Serum calcium levels showed a significant negative correlation with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
- Serum calcium levels are significantly lower in individuals with essential hypertension.
- Lower serum calcium may be a contributing factor or marker in essential hypertension.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of calcium in hypertension pathophysiology.
Abstract:
The exact cause of essential hypertension remains unclear. There is evidence to suggest that the development of essential hypertension is causally related to serum calcium levels. This study was designed to assess the status of serum calcium level in patients with essential hypertension and compared with healthy control. The research study was cross-sectional observational in nature. This study was done at the Department of Physiology in Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh. The duration of the research period was one year. All the known case of hypertension and newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were selected and compared with age-sex matched apparently healthy individual. Age below 18 years, pregnant women and patients taking supplementary calcium therapy were excluded from this study. Blood pressure was measured by auscultatory method; aneroid sphygmomanometer and standard stethoscope were used. Automated chemistry analyzer Vitrose-350, USA was used to estimate serum calcium level. Standard operating procedure strictly followed. There were 62 hypertensive (both known case of hypertension and newly diagnosed cases) were selected in hypertensive group (Group A) and 62 age-sex matched apparently healthy individuals were selected in normotensive group (Group B). The mean age of hypertensive and normotensive subjects was not statistically significant (p=0.814). There were 27(43.5%) male and 35(56.5%) female in hypertensive group, 32(51.8%) male and 30(48.4%) female in normotensive group. The distribution was statistically not significant (p=0.472). The mean value of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 146.45±5.82 mm Hg and the mean value of the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 92.90±7.66 mm Hg in hypertensive group. The mean value of the SBP was 112.74±6.88 mm Hg and the mean value of the DBP was 74.52±5.33 mm Hg of the normotensive group. The difference in mean blood pressure (BP) between the two groups was highly significant (p<0.001). The mean value of the serum calcium level was 8.59±0.55 mg/dl in hypertensive group and 9.12±0.93 mg/dl in normotensive group, which was statistically significant (p <0.001) between two groups. Serum calcium was significantly lower in hypertensive group than normotensive group. There was a negative correlation of the serum calcium level with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
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Prepare for the Procedure:
01:28Hypertension I: Introduction
01:28Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.