Prevalence of obesity among hypertensive patients in Primary Care Clinic, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2017-2018: A prospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Saudi Arabians suffer from overweight and obesity which contribute significantly to the poor control of hypertension (HTN).

AIM

To compare the percentage of HTN between obese and nonobese hypertensive patients who visit Primary Care Center in Security Forces Hospital (SFH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between (December-February) 2017-2018 and to calculate and compare the percentage of a number of antihypertensive medication usage in groups with different body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This study was a prospective cross-sectional study which included all hypertensive patients on medication or patients with (BP >140/90) who attended the Primary Care Center in Security Forces Hospital (SFH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between (December-February) 2017-2018. Data were extracted from the computerized medical records database at the hospital. According to the practice followed at the hospital, the diagnosis of obesity was achieved based on a calculation of body mass ≥30.

RESULTS

About 56.1% of participants were females and 43.9% were males, the most prevalent age group of obese students (55.2%) was above 55 years. We also found that 2.1% of students were normal in weight whereas 1.3% of patients were underweight. A significant correlation with weight (89.02 ± 19.765) and BMI (34.742 ± 6.3818) was also noted ( value <0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that most of the HTN patients in the SFH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, suffer from overweight and obesity that could contribute significantly to the incidence of HTN.