PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE AND NORMOTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract    BACKGROUND: Treatment of hypertension (HTN) as an important risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) is for prevention of its mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate risk factor distribution, prevalence and severity of CAD among hypertensive and normotensive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography in Tabriz Madani Heart Center.    METHODS: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, ۹۷۶ out of ۳۰۰۰ patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between February ۱, ۲۰۰۵ and February ۱, ۲۰۰۶ were randomly selected to enter the study. Demographic and angiographic data were collected. Data entry and analysis was done by SPSS software version ۱۱.۵ and EPI software version ۶.۴.    RESULTS: Prevalence of hypertension in patients who underwent coronary angiography was ۶۰.۵%. Prevalence of CAD was ۸۴% and ۸۷% in hypertensive and normotensive patients, respectively (P = ۰.۲). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia were more frequent in hypertensive patients (P = ۰.۰۰۱). Although the prevalence of ۳-vessel disease was higher in hypertensive patients (۳۲% vs. ۲۸%) the difference was not significant statistically. The difference in prevalence of CAD among hypertensive and normotensive men was not statistically significant (۹۱% and ۹۲%, respectively); but this difference among women was statistically meaningful (۷۸% vs. ۶۳%, p = ۰.۰۱). ۳-vessel disease in hypertensive women was more frequent than normotensive women (۳۷% vs. ۱۸%, P = ۰.۰۲).    CONCLUSION: With regard to high prevalence of cardiac risk factors and severe CAD in hypertensive patients, prompt health measures are needed for control of hypertension in general population especially in the hypertensive women.      Keywords: Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease, Risk Factors.