Awareness of Hypertension in Reproductive-Aged Women Living With Chronic Kidney Disease

Hypertension is the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor among women. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects 1 in 10 reproductive-aged women, increases the risk of hypertension; however, awareness of hypertension in this population is unknown. This study aimed to determine hypertension awareness among reproductive-aged women living with chronic kidney disease. Women aged 18 to 50 years with CKD were recruited from nephrology clinics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants completed a semistructured interview and focused chart review, serum and urine laboratory assessment, and a physical examination that included anthropomorphic measurements and 2 automated office blood pressure readings. Hypertension was defined according to the use of ≥ 1 antihypertensive medications and/or an automated office blood pressure reading of ≥ 135/85 mm Hg. Data were stratified by hypertension status, as well as by awareness, and descriptively presented as mean ± standard deviation, numerical values, and percentages. Sixty-three participants with CKD were included. Thirty-eight (60%) participants had hypertension according to study definitions. Of those with hypertension, 30 participants (79%) were aware of their hypertension status. Hypertension awareness is relatively high in reproductive-aged women living with CKD. However, hypertension awareness is the critical component for hypertension management, and further work is necessary to optimize reduction of cardiovascular risk in this important population. L’hypertension est le principal facteur de risque cardiovasculaire modifiable chez les femmes. La néphropathie chronique, qui touche une femme en âge de procréer sur 10, augmente le risque d’hypertension, mais le niveau de sensibilisation de cette population à ce sujet est inconnu. La présente étude visait à déterminer le niveau de sensibilisation à l’hypertension chez les femmes en âge de procréer atteintes de néphropathie chronique. Des femmes âgées de 18 à 50 ans atteintes de néphropathie chronique ont été recrutées dans les cliniques de néphrologie de Calgary, en Alberta (Canada). Les participantes ont été soumises à des entrevues semi-structurées, un examen ciblé du dossier médical, des analyses de laboratoire du sérum et de l’urine et un examen physique incluant des mesures anthropométriques et deux lectures automatisées de la pression artérielle réalisées en cabinet. L’hypertension a été définie de la façon suivante : (1) l’utilisation de ≥ 1 age