Serum Calcium Level in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Public Health

Background:

• Hypertension is a major global health risk, particularly prevalent in Bangladesh.
• The relationship between serum calcium levels and hypertension pathophysiology is debated, with inconsistent findings across studies.
• Understanding this link is crucial for managing hypertension effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum calcium levels and essential hypertension in a Bangladeshi population.
• To determine if serum calcium concentration correlates with blood pressure readings in hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 107 essential hypertensive patients at Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh.
• Blood pressure measured per American Heart Association (AHA) protocols; serum calcium, albumin, and creatinine analyzed using a HITACHI analyzer.
• Data collected via pretested questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 24.0.

Main Results:

• The study included 107 patients, predominantly middle-aged, male, urban residents, and overweight/obese.
• Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 161.21±12.91 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 98.26±6.31 mmHg.
• A significant positive linear relationship was observed between serum calcium and SBP (Beta=0.201, p=0.024), with higher SBP in patients with corrected calcium >8.5 mg/dL.

Conclusions:

• This study reveals a significant association between corrected serum calcium levels and systolic blood pressure in essential hypertensive patients.
• A notable percentage of patients (23.36%) presented with hypocalcemia.
• Larger, multicenter studies are recommended to further validate these findings and explore the clinical implications of serum calcium in hypertension management.