TRENDS INACUTE EMERGENCYROOM HYPERTENSION RELATED DEATHS:ANAUTOPSYSTUDY
Date
2009
Authors
Mbakwem, AC
Oke, DA
Ajuluchukwu, JNA
Abdulkareem, FB
Ale, O
Odunlami, K
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertension is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Paradigm shift and novel drugsthatgobeyondbloodpressurecontrolhavedebutedinthelastdecadegloballyandinNigeria. The study thereforeproposedtoinvestigatetheeffectoftheaboveifanyonhypertensionrelatedacutedeathsinpatients admitted to the emergency room of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Method: Autopsy reports for bodies deposited from the medical emergency room(ER) were reviewed. Details ofthetimeofadmission,timeofdeathandbloodpressurestatuspriortotheeventwereobtained. Subjects were batched into two groups 1982 1991 and 1992 2001 based on periods of paradigm shift in hypertension diagnosis and management.
Result: There were 297 hypertension related deaths but 252 were analyzed.Therewere168(66.7%) males and 84(33.3%) females (M: F 2:1) and mean age was 47.33±12.18years (14-85yr). Two thirds of the subjects (65.5%) were =50yrs of age. The mean duration of admission was 5.88±6.41hours. One third (35.3%) died within an hour of admission. The commonest causes of death were stroke (52.8%) and heart failure 103(40.9%).Intra cerebralhemorrhagewasthecommonesttypeofstrokeseen,69(52.3%).There were fewer cases of acute deaths in the second decade under review 95(37.7%)vs.157(62.3%),p=0.02and strokes during this period,47(49.47)Vs86(54.78),p=0.06.
Conclusion: There is a trend towards reduction of hypertension related acute deaths. However stroke remains a major cause of acute hypertensive death and the patients are still dying young
Description
Keywords
Trends;Hypertension;AcuteDeaths
Citation
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice March 2009 Vol 12(1):15-19