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Determinants of isolated systolic hypertension among diabetic patients visiting the diabetic clinic at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Northern Ghana.
Ephraim, Richard K.D.; Saasi, Abdul-Razak; Anto, Enoch O. & Adoba, Prince
Abstract
Background: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus, two of the leading risk factors for atherosclerosis, are associated with numerous
complications, including heart attacks and strokes.
Objective: This study established the prevalence and determinants of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) in diabetes mellitus patients
visiting the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Materials and Methods: In this purposive cross-sectional study, 107 diabetes mellitus patients were recruited from the out-patient
diabetes clinic of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Blood and urine samples were collected for the estimation of
fasting blood glucose (FBG) and routine urinalysis respectively. A well-structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain
socio-demographic data and clinical history of participants, and their blood pressure measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer.
Results: The prevalence of ISH among the participants was 37.4%. Mean age and FBG were significantly higher among participants
with ISH than the normotensives (56.20 ± 10.60 v 48.44 ± 11.6, P= 0.022; and 8.80 ± 3.06 v 6.01 ± 0.50, P= 0.034 respectively).
Type of diabetes mellitus was associated with ISH (P= 0.010) and age was a risk factor of ISH (OR= 1.057, P= 0.008).
Conclusion: Isolated systolic hypertension was prevalent in 37.4% of diabetes mellitus patients and was associated with older
age. Effective measures should, therefore, be instituted to prevent ISH in patients with type 2 diabetes especially the elderly.
Keywords
Hypertension; isolated systolic hypertension (ISH); diabetes mellitus; Tamale
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