Antihypertensive Medications Use among Chronic Hemodialysis Patients Visiting the Outpatient Department of Nephrology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Anti-hypertensive medications are prescribed for the management of high blood pressure which is the leading cause of mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. The objective of our study was to find out the prevalence of anti-hypertensive medication use among chronic hemodialysis patients visiting the outpatient Department of Nephrology of a tertiary care centre.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among chronic hemodialysis patients visiting the Department of Nephrology of a tertiary care centre from 2 April 2022 to 30 September 2022. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 062-078/079). A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anti-hypertensive medications use was present in 102 (97.14%) (93.95-100, 95% Confidence Interval) patient undergoing hemodialysis. The three common drugs prescribed for hypertensive patients were amlodipine 79 (77.45%), torsemide 59 (57.84%), and prazosin 48 (47.05%).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of antihypertensive medication use among patients undergoing hemodialysis was higher than other similar studies done in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: anti-hypertensive drugs; hemodialysis; prevalence.