ABSTRACT
Hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular disease with association to risk factors. These risk factors in conjunction with essential elements has become identifiable with the development of the progressive disease. The key purpose of this investigation was to identify the levels of the essential elements, Sodium (Na+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Chloride (Cl-) and Calcium (Ca2+) in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients in a Trinidadian population. To achieve this objective a case-control investigation was conducted in which both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients were assessed. Patients were issued a questionnaire with a series of open-ended questions related to the study. Blood was then drawn from each patient once consent was obtained and sent to the lab to be assayed for the elements. Fifty hypertensive (50) patients were compared with 50 non-hypertensive patients. The average levels obtained for Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were 162.08±4.27 mmol/dL (P=0.53), 120.1±58.31 mmol/dL (P=0.51), 2.78±0.86 mmol/dL (P=0.47) and 0.52±0.31 mmol/dL (P<0.001) respectively for the hypertensive patients. The results in the present study revealed higher levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- and lower levels of Mg2+ in the hypertensive patients. The hypertensive patients were also identifiable with having high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Sixty-two (62%) of the hypertensive patients lived with the condition for more than 10 years. The results obtained for the Trinidadian population revealed in conclusion that hypertensive patients have higher levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- and lower levels of Mg2+. These results are similar to the global results with small differences in their average level of each ion identified.
