prevalence of hypertension among diabetic in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Diabetes [DM] is a chronic noncommunicable disease that requires medical care and self-management education to reduce the risk .of its long-term complications. The present study aimed at studying the prevalence of hypertension among diabetic patients in Primary Health Care [PHC] in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. The risk factors as obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking, food restriction among patients with diabetes and hypertension were done. The present study was conducted in two matched groups 150 diabetic and 150 non-diabetic patients attending the outpatient clinic of PHC. They were selected in the same age, sex, socio-economic status. They were coming to the PHC to be treated for another disease in the same period. Patients were interviewed using questionnaire sheet covering all relevant data as socio -demographic characteristics, medical history,present clinical status and disease related knowledge, and practice questions . The collected data was analyzed and the results showed that hypertension was significantly more prevalent among the diabetic cases [24.7%] comparing with the non-diabetic [13.3%]. The prevalence of DM and hypertension in Riyadh, KSA, had alarmingly worsened. Most of the diabetic cases had low level of self-care practices and lack of knowledge concerning food to be regulated, about food restriction ,ideal body weight, foot care, doing investigation and exercise which might adversely affect the course of the disease. In conclusion, the diabetic patients are in need for a program of health education concerning self management and care to minimize the hazards and complications of DM and hypertension