Incidence of hypercalcemia and thiazide associated hypercalcemia on an OPD basis biochemical evaluation

Background: Hypercalcemia is most of the times diagnosed on routine biochemical evaluation, and concomitant use of thiazide diuretics is common since this group of antihypertensives is frequently prescribed worldwide. Objective: To determine the incidence of hypercalcemia as well as thiazide-induced hypercalcemia on an OPD basis Methods: In a prospective hospital-based descriptive study, patients for routine evaluation, attending outpatient clinics. Results: A total of 373 patients participated in the study, out of which 101(27.1%) were hypertensive. 30 of the 101 hypertensive patients were on thiazides. Hypercalcemia was present in total of 7 (1.9%) patients, primary hyperparathyroidism was seen in 4 patients, out of which 2 patients were on thiazides. 6.7% (2/30) of the patients on thiazides were having hypercalcemia as compared to 1.5% (5/343) patients, not on thiazides (p=0.044). Conclusion: About every 50 patients evaluated, one patient has hypercalcemia with frequency of hypercalcemia being significantly higher among subjects receiving thiazides than those not receiving thiazide drugs.