ABSTRACT
Diabetes Mellitus [DM] and its complications are a common problem among Yemeni population. Hypertension is commonly associated with type II DM. Both are risk factors for vascular complications. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of hypertension in Yemeni patients with Type II DM, and its association with macrovascular and microvascular complications. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hypertension among Yemeni patients with diabetic Type II, and its association with vascular complications of DM. A Cross Sectional Study was carried out in Al-Thawra Hospital, between June to December 2007. A total of one hundred eighty-nine adult patients with Type II DM were included in the study. The diagnosis of Diabetes was based on the WHO criteria, while the diagnosis of hypertension was based on the criteria of the fifth Joint National Committee [JNC-5]. The patients were divided into two groups: with and without hypertension, and their clinico-laboratory parameters were studied and analyzed. The mean age was 55.6 +/- 10.2 years, and mean BMI was 22.61 +/- 3.6 kg/m[2]. The mean time duration of DM was 8.9 +/- 6.3 years. The prevalence of hypertension in Type II diabetic patients was 55% [N = 104 patients]. No significant differences were observed in the duration, sex and BMI of both groups. Hypertension was significant in the elderly, low HDL cholesterol, and poor glycemic control group. The hypertensive diabetic groups were observed to have more ischemic heart disease [IHD], diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy than the normotensive diabetics. Hypertension is common among Yemeni patients with Type II DM. It's associated with increased prevalence of both micro-and macro-vascular complications