A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MICROALBUMINURIA IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION AND ITS CORRELATION TO TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is a major global health issue, responsible for killing and disabling a large number of patients through its various complications. Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide. The relationship between blood pressure and the risk of coronary vascular disease is continuous, consistent, and independent of other risk factors. Adequate hypertension control remains elusive, primarily due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease for the first 15-20 years, even as it progressively damages the cardiovascular system.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted in OP and IP wing of Department of General Medicine. The study population were the patients admitted in general medicine wards and those attending medical outpatient unit in Government Medical College, Ananthapur with a diagnosis of essential hypertension. A total of 75 subjects were selected after attaining their consent in written format. Data collection was by clinical history, examination and investigations. A preset proforma was used to collect data. Detailed clinical examination was done. The investigations collected were FBS, PPBS, FLP, serum creatinine, urine routine, urine culture, 24-hr urine albumin excretion, chest x-ray, ECG, echocardiogram in all cases and CT brain in relevant cases.
Results: The minimum age was 31 and the maximum was 59. The mean age was 48.62, SD 7.44. Of the total 75 subjects, 51 (68.7%) belonged to the group from 18.5 to 22.9 (normal), 16 (21.3%) belonged to group from 23 to 24.9 (overweight), 8 (10%) belonged to group > 25 (obese). Among the regularly treated hypertensives, no patients had microalbuminuria and the prevalence of microalbuminuria was more in patients with no and irregular treatment and the difference was statistically significant with p-value 0.000 (< 0.05)
Conclusion: Control of risk factors amenable to prevention (control of hypertension, weight and lipid levels) may have a favourable effect in preventing, delaying and lessening microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria in hypertensive subjects seems to be a very important test to be considered in the evaluation of target organ damage.