The Prevalence of Isolated Systolic Hypertension at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India : An Observational Study

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Hypertension is a significant public health issue. Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH) was once considered to be a benign aspect among the aging population, but an association with an increased risk of Cardiovascular Disease is now known. ISH shows an increasing prevalence with increase in age. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of ISH among adults in Eastern India. Methods: This study evaluated the adult population (aged 18-70 years) attending the NRS Medical College and Hospital, a Tertiary Care Center in East India. The clinical characteristics and echocardiographic findings were also evaluated. Results: A total of 800 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 75 (9.37%) had ISH. Blood Pressure increased with age. The most common echocardiographic change observed in ISH patients was increased Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI), while concentric Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) was more common in women than men with isolated Systolic Hypertension. The incidence of LVMI increased as the severity of ISH increased. Furthermore, patients with stage 3 ISH were nearly 4 times more likely to develop Proteinuria. Conclusion: The findings of this study are in line with previous studies evaluating the presence of ISH in the adult Indian population. There is need for effective population screening along with effective treatment for Blood Pressure to reduce morbidity and mortality. Primary prevention strategies may be the need of the hour in the Indian population which is at risk of cardiovascular Disease associated with Hypertension