Prevalence and coorelates of hypertensive complications in Egyptians

ABSTRACT

The Egyptian National Hypertension Project is a nation-wide survey conducted in the period 1991-1994. All hypertensive individuals as well as a sex and residence matched group of normotensive individuals were included in the study. The 2313 individuals included were subjected to clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, ECG recording and echocardiographic study. Left ventricular mass index estimated by echo was used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH]. The diagnosis of heart failure was based upon the clinical findings plus left ventricular systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. Plasma creatinine more than 1.6 mg/dl was used to diagnose renal failure. LVH was present in 5% and 20% of the normotensive and hypertensive individuals. Age and systolic blood pressure had an important effect on the prevalence of LVH. The prevalence of coronary heart disease was 11.6% in normotensives and 19.5% in hypertensives. Heart failure was present in 5.8% of the normotensives and 13.3% of the hypertensives. Renal failure was present in 5.3% and 1.9% of the hypertensives and normotensives