Abstract
Introduction: Ischemic heart diseases (IHDs)are a leading cause of mortalities in Sri Lanka. Among a variety of risk factors, hypertension is a leading cause for IHDs; however, unequal distribution of proper diagnostic facilities complicates the early diagnosis of ischemic changes among adults in Sri Lanka. Therefore this study aimed at studying the possibility of using two basic diagnostic tools, including Rose angina questionnaire (RAQ) and 12 lead electrocardiogram (EGC), to estimate the potential ischemic heart changes among the hypertensive patients in a selected Sri Lankan adult population.Methods: A consecutive sample of 150 hypertensive individuals was recruited, and data were gathered through an interviewer-administered questionnaire, RAQ, blood pressure measurement, and ST-segment analysis of standard 12 –lead ECG recordings.Results and Discussion: The majority of the participants (n = 93, 62%) were females. The mean age was 61.5 ± 10.33 years, and their average systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 146 ± 23.27Hgmm and 85 ± 12.08 Hgmm. The association of ST-segment deviations that denote IHDs and the presence of stage I or II hypertension (n = 52, 42%) was statistically significant (p <0.05, df = 1). Based on positive responses to both RAQ and ST-segment deviations, the proportion of individuals with potential Ischemic Heart changes among the hypertensive individuals was 23% (34/150). Except these, 37/150 (25%) of hypertensive individuals, exhibited potential ischemic heart changes only in 12 lead ECG, but the responses to RAQ were negative. On the other hand, responses RAQ was positive among 32/150 (21%) individuals, though none of them exhibited any significant ST-segment changes in their 12 lead ECGs.Conclusion: Based on the utility of RAQ and 12 lead ECG, about a quarter of hypertensive individuals could be detected as having potential ischemic heart changes. Therefore it is suggested that RAQ can be incorporated along with 12 lead ECG into the routine clinical assessment to identify the risk of IHDs among Sri Lankan hypertensive individuals.
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