Prospective study of cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with pre-hypertension

Introduction: Prehypertension has been shown to be an early risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prehypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) 120–139 mm Hg or diastolic BP 80–89 mm Hg .It is associated with many risk factors such as sympathetic overactivity, abnormal lipid profile, obesity and diabetes. Prevention of prehypertension is important goal for primary care patients. We investigated cardiometabolic risk factors in prehypertensive patients.
Material & Method: In this study 100 patients of prehypertension who were free of diabetes, hypertension and previous CVD. Three BP readings, Random blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI),Waist Hip ratio,(WHR), Renal function Test, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol were examined as indicators of adverse cardiometabolic profile.
Result: Majority of study participants were males (67%) and aged between 41 to 60 years (72%), 5% individuals were more than 60 years. Majority (61%) patients were overweight and obese, overall mean basal heart rate of 82.50±10.37 beats/min.Family history of diabetes was seen in 35% & hypertension was seen in 34%. newly diagnosed diabetics were 6% ,there were 25% smokers and 21% alcoholics, higher level of blood glucose, HbA1c and BMI were significantly associated with prehypertension . In addition, higher levels of LDL cholesterol & triglycerides were significantly associated with prehypertension.
Conclusion: Age, smoking, family history, prediabetes and diabetes are important risk factors for prehypertension. Obesity, dyslipidemia and basal heart rate of more than 80 beats/min formed an important risk factors, as well as determinants of prehypertesion. Prehypertensives are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and progression to hypertension, Screening for prehypertension and lifestyle modifications could potentially reduce the burden of CVD.