Abstract

Background: Hypertensive crises, including hypertensive urgency and emergency, are lifethreatening conditions characterized by severely elevated blood pressure. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors, clinical profile, and outcomes among patients presenting with hypertensive crises at Bellary Medical College And Research center Bellary, India. Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted, involving 119 patients aged 18 years and above with systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg, along with evidence of target organ damage. Patients with secondary causes of hypertension were excluded. Data collection included demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, blood pressure measurements, and diagnostic tests such as CT brain scans and ECGs. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize key variables, and statistical tests assessed associations between clinical findings and outcomes. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.44 years, with 69.2% being male. The mean systolic blood pressure was 201.14 mmHg, and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 104.32 mmHg. The most common diagnosis was hypertensive urgency (30.6%), followed by hypertensive heart disease (16.5%), and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA-infarct: 14.0%, CVA-bleed: 11.6%). Active smoking was reported in 56.7% of patients, and 65.0% were active alcohol consumers. A total of 69.7% of patients were discharged, 30.3% were referred for further care, and the mortality rate was 4.2%. Conclusions: Hypertensive crises are associated with significant morbidity, particularly in male patients and those with lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Stroke, heart disease, and renal involvement were common complications. Effective management requires timely blood pressure control and addressing modifiable risk factors to prevent severe outcomes.

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