Control of hypertension among type II diabetics

Abstract

Objectives: Numerous studies have confirmed the high prevalence of hypertension among type 2 diabetics, and that intensive hypertensive treatment is more beneficial to diabetics than non diabetics. The aim of this study is to assess blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to study the types of antihypertensives used. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on hypertensive diabetics followed at a health center in Oman within a year. Patients’ age, sex, duration of diabetes, hypertension and the type of antihypertensive used were noted. Patients were classified according to the degree of systolic and diastolic BP control into 4 groups. Results: 210 patients with a mean age of 53.7±9.1 years were included with a 2:5 male to female ratio. The mean duration of diabetes was found to be 9 years and 7 years for hypertension. 10% of the subjects were in the systolic group I, 23% in group II, 23% in group III and 41% in group IV. While 56% were in diastolic group I, 19% in group II, 16% in group III, and 7% in group IV. Angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors (ACE) were used in 50% of the subjects followed by a combination of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) with diuretics in 40%. B blockers were used in 38% of the patients. Calcium channel blockers were used in 18%, while diuretics were used in 16% of the patients. Conclusion: Only 30% of the BP of the hypertensive diabetics met the recommended BP for diabetes. More effort should be dedicated to control the BP in diabetics. Physicians should be careful in the selection of hypertensive medications, because in some combinations, they are not useful.