Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors among psychiatric patients: A cross sectional study at a tertiary healthcare center.

Introduction: Hypertension is the foremost contributor to cardiovascular disease(s) and premature death worldwide. Mental health disorders have a significant impact on global public health, affecting millions of individuals with disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Importantly, all of these conditions are distinctly associated with hypertension. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders in Jordan and its associated risk factors.

Methods: Data from individuals 18-80 years of age, who attended the psychiatry clinic at Jordan University Hospital (Amman, Jordan), were included. The study included participants without a previous diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as heart rate, were assessed; in addition, demographic information from each participant was collected. Assessments were performed at the clinic facilities during 2 distinct appointments scheduled at a one-week interval.

Results: In total, data from 484 patients (57.2 % female, 42.8 % male) were analyzed. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among those diagnosed with psychiatric disorders was significantly high (30.8 %), the majority of whom were male. Mean age, body mass index, and a positive family history of cardiovascular disease(s) were significantly higher in patients with undiagnosed hypertension. Moreover, patients undergoing treatment with serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension than their counterparts.

Conclusion: Results of the present study revealed a significant prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among patients with psychiatric disorders (30.8 %). Factors significantly associated with a higher prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension included male sex, older age, higher BMI, family history of cardiovascular disease(s), and use of SNRIs.