Socio-economic profile and prevalence of hypertension among type 2 newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients attending a tertiary hospital in Dhaka

Abstract

Introduction: Untreated coexistence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) may result in more severe complications. The implementation of earlier intervention to prevent these complications can be facilitated by earlier identification of the conditions and their associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional research was conducted at Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, between June 2020 and July 2021. Following the diagnosis of DM in the symptomatic patients, SPSS V 25 was utilized to collect socioeconomic history and blood pressure data for further analysis. Results : 271 (40 %) of the 542 diabetic patients were between 33 to 47 years of age. Most (332, 60.9%) were females. A majority of the patients (302.55.7%) belonged to lower socioeconomic classes, with incomes ranging from 1 thousand to 14 thousand taka. 253 patients (46.7%) had a familial predisposition to diabetes. Concurrent hypertension was observed in 193 (35.6%) diabetic patients; this was substantially correlated with advancing age, lower socioeconomic status, and higher body mass index (p< 0.05). Result: Diabetic hypertensive patients were more prevalent among those with lower socioeconomic status, a demographic that is least likely to pursue and adhere to treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and execute policies that guarantee their appropriate treatment and avert subsequent complications. Conclusion A significant percentage of the participants simultaneously presented with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both of which are life-threatening conditions if left untreated. The majority of patients belonged to the lower socioeconomic class, which increases the likelihood of inadequate diagnosis and treatment. It is imperative to develop policies that facilitate their convenient access to healthcare services, thereby enabling them to obtain appropriate treatment and prevent any subsequent complications.

J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2023; 15(1): 55-58