Memory impairment in hypertension patiens:a case-control study

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of memory impairment in hypertension patients,and to provide evidence for early diagnosis and intervention of the disease.Methods Totally 230 hypertension patients were recruited from In-patient and Out-patient Departments in Tangshan Worker’s Hospital and 240 healthy people were matched to the cases from Out-patient Examination Department.Memory function was measured with Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test Second Edition(RBMT-Ⅱ,2003).χ² test,t test,and multiple regression linear analysis were used in data analyses.Results The rate of abnormal memory function in the hypertension patients was 96.5% and 69.2% in the control group,with a significant difference between the two groups(χ²=152.370,P=0.000).There were significant differences in the total score of RBMT-Ⅱ(t=15.717,P=0.000),name recall(t=17.573,P=0.000),storing article recall(t=5.891,P=0.000),date and time recall(t=3.384,P=0.001),faces recall(t=6.346,P=0.000),immediate story recall(t=17.821,P=0.000),delayed story recall(t=20.360,P=0.000),immediate route recall(t=4.837,P=0.000),delayed route recall(t=4.406,P=0.000),immediate massage recall(t=23.115,P=0.000),delayed massage recall(t=9.843,P=0.000),date memory(t=7.045,P=0.000),and orientation memory(t=10.553,P=0.000) between the two groups.The age and the level of systolic blood pressure were independent risk factors of memory impairment in the hypertensives.Conclusion The hypertension patients has a higher morbidity of and more serious memory impairment than healthy people.The instantaneous memory,short-term memory and long-term memory of the hypertentsion patients are all impaired.The level of systolic blood pressure is an independent risk factor of memory impairment in the hypertensives.