Cent Eur J Public Health 2005, 13(2):61-65

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Hypertension in the Civilians of Kosovo after the War

Markoglou N.C.¹, Hatzitolios A.I.², Savopoulos C.G.², Ziakas A.G.², Koutsopoulos D.¹, Metallidis S.²

¹ 34th Greek Medical Battalion, Greek Force of Kosovo

² 1st Medical Propedeutic Department, Aristotles University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

34th Greek regimen, which was part of the NATO forces, provided medical services to the civilians of Kosovo. We studied epidemiologic data in the population of Kosovo regarding hypertension in order to determine the prevalence and characteristics of hypertension. 830 patients (281 - 33.86% male, 62± 26 yrs and 549 - 66.14% female, 49± 28 yrs) were examined for different diseases. We identified 254 (30.6%) patients with hypertension (188 female and 66 male). According to the international criteria used for the classification of the severity of hypertension, more than half of the patients (51.2%) had severe hypertension, 31.5% modest and 17.3% mild. Statistically significant relation between the severity of hypertension and age or sex was not found out. Increased BMI as well as the presence of proteinuria and rheumatic diseases were significantly related to the severity of the hypertension while the coexistent heart disease, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) wasn't. The use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) was related to the severity of hypertension with a borderline significance. 31.4% of the patients were on treatment with NSAIDs and/or cortisone because of rheumatic disease or obstructive pulmonary disease. Overfunction of the sympathetic system was present in 62.99%. The mean heart rate was greater in women (84/min) than in men (72/min). 28.35% of the patients had secondary hypertension, including the patients on a drug that can elevate the blood pressure and patients with increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. So, 8.6% of the patients had usual causes of secondary hypertension and 19.6% hypertension secondary related to the use of NSAIDs or cortisone, or due to the increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Antihypertensive treatment was started in 248 patients, i.e. in all of them except the ones already on treatment having their blood pressure well controlled. For antihypertensive treatment β-blockers or central adrenergic inhibitors either as monotherapy or in combination with other agents were used most frequently combined with diuretics and Ca antagonists and ACE inhibitors. In conclusion the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in the population of Kosovo during the post war period had certain particularities.

Keywords: epidemiology, Kosovo, hypertension, sympathetic nervous system, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids

Received: November 19, 2003; Revised: November 28, 2004; Accepted: November 28, 2004; Published: June 1, 2005  Show citation