PATTERNS OF COMPLICATIONS SEEN IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION ADMITTED TO TIKUR ANBESSA HOSPITAL: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS.

BACKGROUND

Complications due to undetected and uncontrolled hypertension have been recorded to be devastating. Among these are cerebrovascular, cardiovascular and renal complications. Lack of data on the patterns of these complications, combined with the notion that hypertension is only a problem of developed nations, has resulted in missed opportunities for early detection and treatment.

METHOD

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed through medical chart review of 106 hypertension patients who were admitted with complications of hypertension at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from Januaty 2013 to January 2014 E.C.

RESULTS

A total of 106 medical charts of hypertensive patients were reviewed. Among the patients involved in the study, 51% were male, 45% were in their fifth and sixth decades and two third of them did not have any co morbidity. Sixty seven percent of these patients had cerebrovascular disease (stroke), 11% had stroke and hypertensive heart disease, 8% had stroke, hypertensive heart disease and chronic kidney disease (all three), and 5% had stroke with chronic kidney disease. However, there was no significant association between the considered variables and the outcome.

CONCLUSION

This study has revealed most of the patients have stroke as a complication, therefore preventive or prophylactic measures should be encouraged to avail it.