Hematological parameters of hypertensive patients in northeast Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

IntroductionHypertension has emerged as a significant public health concern, ranking among the leading causes of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, it is closely associated with structural and functional alterations in hematopoietic cells. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hematological parameters of hypertensive patients in Northeast Ethiopia. MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2023, involving 248 participants. This included 124 hypertensive patients and 124 apparently healthy controls selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected through a structured questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements were obtained following established guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Wollo University. After obtaining informed consent, approximately 5 ml of venous blood was drawn from each participant for complete blood count and fasting blood glucose analysis, performed using the Mindray BC-3000 Plus hematology analyzer and the DIRUI CS-T240 automated clinical chemistry analyzer, respectively. Data analysis involved independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests, correlation tests, and logistic regression. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsThe study found that white blood cell count, platelet count, platelet distribution width, red cell distribution width, and mean platelet volume were significantly higher in hypertensive patients compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conversely, red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the control group than in hypertensive patients (p < 0.05). Additionally, white blood cells and platelets exhibited a positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), while red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin demonstrated a negative correlation with blood pressure indices and body mass index. Anemia was observed in 20.2 % of hypertensive patients. Notably, an abnormal body mass index (AOR: 3.5, 95 % CI: 1.3–9.6, p = 0.011) and high systolic blood pressure (AOR: 4.6, 95 % CI: 1.3–15.5, p = 0.013) were significantly associated with anemia among hypertensive patients. ConclusionThis study identified significant differences in various hematological parameters between hypertensive patients and the control group. Routine assessments of hematological parameters should be considered to effectively manage hypertension-related complications in hypertensive patients.