Hypertension as a Risk Factor: Is It Different in Ischemic Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction Comparative Cross-Sectional Study?

Objective. To assess differences in age of onset, hypertension duration, type of drug, treatment compliance, and salt-free diet compliance between patients with stroke and myocardial infarction. Patients and Methods. The study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Baghdad between June 2010 and June 2011. First group includes 81 stroke patients (36 females and 45 males), age ranges between (33–82 years). Second group includes 110 myocardial infarction patients (46 females and 64 males), ages ranges from (23–76 years). Results. Salt-free diet noncompliance was seen in 69% and 62% of Myocardial infarction and stroke groups, respectively. Silent hypertension was seen in 6.3% and 19.7% of myocardial infarction and stroke groups, respectively. Noncompliant on antihypertensive therapy was seen in 61%, 71%, and 48% of the total, myocardial infarction, and stroke groups, respectively. The drug type was 24% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, 18.8% combined drugs, 16.2% Beta Blocker, 11% angiotensin 11 receptor blocker, 10.4% calcium channel blocker and 7.3% diuretic. In stroke group, the commonest drug was 23% angiotensin converting inhibitor and the least (5%) was angiotensin receptor blocker. In myocardial infarction group, the commonest drug was 25% Angiotensin Converting Inhibitor and the least (8%) was diuretic. Discussion and Conclusion. Silent hypertension was high in Iraq. Salt-free diet noncompliance was high in both groups; drug noncompliance was significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction. Angiotensin 11 receptor blocker use was associated significantly with myocardial infarction more than in stroke. 1. Introduction Hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular syndrome arising from complex etiologies. Early markers of the syndrome are often present before persistent blood pressure elevation. Progression is strongly associated with functional and structural abnormalities that damage the heart, kidneys, brain, and vasculature [1]. Based on population-based survey conducted in 1979 arterial hypertension comprises 12% of the Iraqi population [2]. After that, there is only small report from selected Primary Health Care Centers in Nasiriya city south of Iraq, reported 46.1% of study population were hypertensive [3]. Hospitals morbidity data provided by Iraqi Ministry of Health in 2004 demonstrates a 65% increase of the hospital admission due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke and more than a fivefold increase in outpatient visits with the same diagnosis between 1989 and 1999. The major antihypertensive drugs are provided to the