Prevalence of hypertension-mediated target organ damage in hypertensive patients in an outpatient setting – An observational study

ABSTRACT Aim: We aimed to study the clinical profile of hypertensive patients in an outpatient setting and to assess the burden and pattern of hypertension-mediated target organ damage (HMOD). Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study evaluated the clinical profile of hypertensive patients who attended a general internal medicine outpatient clinic over 1 year from April 2022 to March 2023. Results: A total of 454 patients (64.5% – preexisting hypertension, 35.5% – newly diagnosed) were found hypertensive during outpatient visits during the study period. About 22.7% had symptoms at the time of diagnosis of hypertension, and the leading symptoms were dizziness, headache, angina, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Twenty-one percent had isolated systolic hypertension. Of the patient with preexisting hypertension, 26.28% had their hypertension under control. Among the patients taking antihypertensive drugs 49% were on single antihypertensive drug, 43% on two antihypertensive drugs, and 8% on ≥3 drugs. The most commonly used antihypertensive drugs were amlodipine and telmisartan. The prevalence of hypertension-mediated organ damage was seen in 20% with isolated systolic hypertension, 30.76% with preexisting hypertension, and 33.3% with newly diagnosed hypertension. Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was leading hypertension-mediated organ damage followed by hypertensive retinopathy and proteinuria. Overall, hypertension-mediated organ damage was less common in patients with isolated systolic hypertension ( P = 0.008). Conclusion: Only around one-fourth of hypertensive patients have their hypertension under control. HMOD is prevalent in around one-third of newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.