study of certain risk factors associated with a high blood pressure among outpatient attendants in Al-Yarmok hospital

ABSTRACT

A simple methodological screening of blood pressure to detect undiagnosed hypertensives and to assess the associated risk factors of hypertention was applied in a random sample of 351 patients attending the outpatient clinic at Al- yarmok hospital in Baghdad. The results showed that the percentages of undiagnosed systolic hypertension were 20.3% and 24.8% and of diastolic hypertension were 15.3% and 19.8% for women and men respectively. The development of hypertension was associated with the risk factor obesity, but there was no statistically significant difference with contraceptive pills. The results of this study indicated a high prevalence of undiagnosed [or undetected] hypertension and call for a large population based survey to confirm this finding prior to initiating anearly detection and treatment program on the national level; and also to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases