Spirometric Variations in Adults with Controlled Hypertension: A Cross-sectional Study from Eastern India
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertension’s impact on global health is vast, yet its link to Indian pulmonary function remains unclear. Despite maintaining controlled blood pressure, hypertensive individuals may harbour undetected pulmonary deficits, necessitating a closer look at the intersection of cardiovascular and respiratory health. Aim: To compare spirometric parameters between subjects with controlled essential hypertension and normotensive healthy controls in Eastern India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital of eastern India from April to December 2024. Total 84 nonsmoking participants {42 controlled essential hypertensives (≥1 year duration), 42 normotensive} aged 18-60 years underwent spirometric evaluation. Spirometric parameters like Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1 ), FEV1 /FVC ratio, Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75% (FEF25-75%) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) were measured using standardised American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) protocols. Data were statistically analysed by using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Participants were middle-aged adults, with a mean age of 43.38 years including both the genders. However, hypertensive participants were significantly older (50.6±8.81 vs. 36.17±15.03 years, p<0.0001) with higher Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) (103.43±8.79 vs. 88.93±6.09 mmHg, p<0.0001). All spirometric parameters except FEV1 / FVC ratio were significantly impaired in hypertensives: FVC (68.52±12.77% vs. 100.6±15.69% predicted, p<0.0001), FEV1 (71.17±16.93% vs. 107.12±14.62% predicted, p<0.0001), PEFR (44.86±28.04% vs. 95.57±32.7% predicted, p<0.0001), and FEF25-75% (57.57±43.42% vs. 100.4±35.5% predicted, p<0.0001). Abnormal spirometric patterns occurred in 83.3% of hypertensives versus 9.5% of controls (OR=47.5, p<0.0001), with mixed defects predominating (59.5%). Strong negative correlations existed between MAP and spirometric indices (ρ=- 0.75 for MAP-FVC). Conclusion: The present study findings indicated that controlled essential hypertension significantly impairs lung function in Eastern Indians, necessitating routine spirometry for comprehensive risk assessment.