Awareness of hypertension among patients attending primary health care centre and outpatient department of tertiary care hospital of Karachi.

Objective: To compare awareness of hypertension among patients attending Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) and outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital of Karachi.

Methods: Cross sectional survey of patients more than 18 years of age without any complication of hypertension in a squatter settlement of Karachi through non-probability convenient sampling.

Results: A total 202 patients were approached, 49 (24%) were males and 153 (76%) were females. Majority of the patients attending tertiary care OPD (80%) and 56% from PHC group believed that hypertension could lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). On inquiring the duration of taking antihypertensive drugs, 61% from tertiary care OPD group and 31% of PHC group said they are taken only for few months (p < 0.001). Over two-third (77%) of patient of tertiary OPD were not doing exercise and not avoiding oily and heavy food to keep their weight under control. Large number of OPD patients (91%) used oil for cooking in comparison to PHC group (78%) who utilized ghee (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study showed a marked difference in awareness regarding hypertension in urban slum and middle class community, which can be attributed to the level of education. This outcome reveals need for more awareness campaigns especially in the squatter settlement with special emphasis on lifestyle modifications along with pharmacological therapy for the better control of hypertension.