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Prehypertension and undiagnosed hypertension in a sample of dental school female patients
Author(s) -
AlZahrani MS
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of dental hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1601-5037
pISSN - 1601-5029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00441.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prehypertension , blood pressure , population , diastole , environmental health
To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene9 , 2011; 74–78
DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2009.00441.x
Al‐Zahrani MS. Prehypertension and undiagnosed hypertension in a sample of dental school female patients. Abstract: Objective: This study was conducted to assess prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in a sample of female dental patients. Methods: A total of 208 consecutive female patients aged ≥ 18 years provided information about sociodemographics, history of hypertension and other systemic diseases, antihypertension medication use and smoking history. Two blood pressure measurements were taken by a dentist and the average measurement was utilized in the present analysis. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 38 (±13) years. Thirty‐seven per cent of the sample had prehypertension (ranging between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg). High blood pressure (HBP) measurement (≥140/90 mmHg) was recorded on 18% of the study population. Of those, 66% were unaware of their HBP prior to their dental visit (represent 12% of the study sample). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of those with elevated blood pressure were 154 (±16) and 94 (±12), respectively. Furthermore, 26% of those 30 years of age or older had HBP measurements. History of hypertension was reported by 13% of the study sample. Of those, 48% had HBP measurement. The use of antihypertension medications was reported by 10%. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and prehypertension in the present sample. These results underscore the importance of routine blood pressure measurements in the dental clinics.