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Study of complications in hypertensive patients having irregular treatment
N A Chowdhury1, M A Hayee, N Alam
1Medicine Unit, Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Insights
Irregular drug therapy for hypertension frequently leads to serious complications like stroke, particularly in patients with a history of smoking and atherosclerosis. Noncompliance, often due to personal carelessness, significantly increases these risks.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypertension is a significant risk factor for severe health complications.
- Irregular drug therapy management is a common issue in hypertensive patients.
- Understanding complication patterns is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of hypertensive complications.
- To identify the primary causes of irregular drug therapy in hypertension.
- To analyze risk factors associated with these complications.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 100 hypertensive patients admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
- Data collection included patient demographics, complication types, drug adherence, and risk factors.
- Statistical analysis to determine incidence and associations.
Main Results:
- Stroke was the most frequent complication (48%), often presenting with neurological deficits.
- Cardiac complications, including ischemia (14%) and heart failure (10%), were also prevalent.
- Noncompliance, attributed to personal carelessness (47%), was a major factor. Smokers constituted 75.92% of stroke cases. Family history (66%) was a key atherosclerosis risk factor. Diabetes coexisted in 13% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Irregular drug therapy significantly elevates the risk of severe hypertensive complications, especially stroke.
- Patient noncompliance and modifiable risk factors like smoking require targeted interventions.
- Long-term management and patient education are vital for controlling hypertension and preventing its devastating consequences.
Abstract:
One hundred cases of hypertensive complications due to irregular drug-therapy were studied in medicine units of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for the period of one year from February 7, 1989 to February 6, 1990. Among those stroke had headed the list (48%) manifesting in various ways e.g. cerebral haemorrhage with focal neurological signs--hemiplegia, hemiperesis, aphasia etc. Hypertension associated with varying degrees of cardiac ischaemias and heart failure was seen in 14% and 10% cases respectively. Highest incidence of complications was seen in 1-5 years after detection of hypertension with mean age of 55 +/- 18.70 years. Out of 48 cases of strokes, smoker were 41 (75.92%). Regarding reasons of noncompliance of drugs, personal carelessness was the prominent one (47%). Among the risk-factors for atherosclerosis family history tops the list (66%). Diabetes coexists with hypertension in 13% cases. Ocular complications were seen in 06% cases of malignant hypertension with variable retinal changes.