CLINICAL PROFILE OF YOUNG HYPERTENSIVES

Introduction : Systemic arterial hypertension or simply called hypertension, is a major medical and public health problem worldwide as it is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardiovascular disease and renal failure. Traditionally, hypertension is a disease that has been associated with older age groups but prevalence among younger individuals is increasing by studying them, this study aims to determine the prevalence of secondary hypertension and describe the risk factors of primary hypertension in this population. Method : This is a non randomized cross sectional study of 50 young hypertensive patients diagnosed between age 18-40 years. According to JNC - 8 attending medicine OPD or admitted in our tertiary care hospital of west Gujarat. Pretested proforma was used to collect data after taking informed consent. Investigations including blood pressure measured with a standard sphygmomanometer, renal artery doppler, fundus examination, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, ultrasonography KUB, 2D echo were carried out. Result : 16% patients of our study population were diagnosed to have secondary hypertension. Our data shows most of them were diagnosed within less than one year duration, on routine check up or headache as a symptom, males more than females. Overall number of patients were more having sedentary life style. Conclusion: Among young hypertensive patients, non modiable risk factors that were associated with hypertension were age, gender, socio-economic status and a family history of hypertension and the modiable risk factors were obesity, low physical activity and added dietary salt.