The effects of smoking in developing hypertension in Pakistan: A systematic review

Abstract

Globally, hypertension is considered one of the most important preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. Several plausible factors have been assessed and identified in relation to high blood pressure but there have been limited studies carried out as to whether smoking can have any effect in developing high blood pressure in Pakistan. This paper aims to examine the effects of smoking in developing hypertension in Pakistan. This study employs a systematic review. A total of 1097 articles were identified (reduced to 61 once duplication was removed). Only six studies met the relevant quality appraisal criteria. Three major databases - Medline, EMBASE and Global Health - were searched using both ‘free terms’ and ‘index-terms’. All selected studies were quality appraised by critical appraisal tools and reviewed by two authors. The studies fell into three distinct themes – awareness, economic status and types of tobacco. Findings of the review indicated that an unhealthy relationship exists between hypertension and smoking, as incidences of hypertension were more prevalent in smokers as compared to non-smokers. In addition, both high systolic and diastolic blood pressure were more frequent in smokers compared to non-smokers. The present study suggests that a positive harmful relationship exists between blood pressure and smoking, and that smokers are more likely to develop high blood pressure compared to non-smokers. In addition, this review considers knowledge and lifestyle modification, their linkage with hypertension and compliance to the treatment regimen as important considerations to reduce unhealthy effects of smoking in developing hypertension.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(1) 2015: 4-11