Estimation of serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels in newly detected essential hypertensive patients

Introduction: Hypertension remains the leading cause of death worldwide and one of the world's great public health problems (WHO). Affecting 1 billion people worldwide, systemic hypertension remains the most common, readily identifiable and reversible risk factor for myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, aortic dissection and peripheral arterial disease. In this study, total serum calcium levels and corrected serum calcium levels of essential hypertension patients are compared and correlated with matched normotensive controls. Aim of the study: To compare the total and corrected serum calcium levels among patients with newly detected essential hypertension and normotensive controls. Materials and methods: This study was a cross sectional study, with cases and controls enrolling 100 newly detected essential hypertension patients as cases and 50 suitable healthy individuals with normal blood pressure as controls, as per JNC-8 guidelines. Cases were selected from those who visited hypertension clinic and those who were admitted in wards during the study period. Controls were selected from those who attended medical outpatient department for minor ailments and healthy volunteers. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were estimated using standard levels and the interpretation was done with blood pressure values. Results: Group A was the study group which included 100 newly detected essential hypertensive patients. Group B was the control group which included 50 normotensive individuals. In Group A, 52 (52%) were males and 48 (48%) were females and in Group B, 26 (52%) were males and 24 (48%) were females. There was a negative correlation noted between the total and corrected serum calcium levels as against the systolic blood pressure. There was no correlation noted between the total and corrected serum calcium levels as against the diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The total and corrected serum calcium levels were found to be significantly lowered in cases when compared to controls. Also, a significant negative correlation between the calcium levels and systolic blood pressure was noted while there was no correlation noted with the diastolic blood pressure in the cases. This study also noted that there is no significant difference in both the calcium levels with age, sex, BMI, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, family H/o hypertension in newly detected essential hypertensive patients.