Role of hypertension in epistaxis

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to study the role of hypertension in patients hospitalized for serious epistaxis. Methodology: This is a retrospective study conducted over duration of 2 years from August 2014 to July 2016 over 140 patients hospitalized for serious epistaxis. Epistaxis was classified into serious and severe type. The following parameters were recorded: age, gender, blood pressure recordings, patients in whom blood pressure is difficult to control, duration of hospital stay, history of hypertension, severity of epistaxis, including medical and/or surgical management, medications affecting clotting.Results: Mean age of our patients was 52 years, 55% of the patients had a history of hypertension. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with a history of epistaxis in the two groups (with or without a history of hypertension). There was no statistical significance between blood pressure recordings on admission between the two groups. The severity of hypertension was also not associated with severe epistaxis versus serious epistaxis.Conclusion: Hypertension does not appear to be causal factor of serious epistaxis.