Active epistaxis at ED presentation is associated with arterial hypertension

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine 2002-03, Vol.20 (2), p.92-95
• Main Authors: Herkner, Harald, Havel, Christof, Müllner, Marcus, Gamper, Gunnar, Bur, Andreas, Temmel, Andreas F., Laggner, Anton N., Hirschl, Michael M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active epistaxis; arterial hypertension; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Emergencies; emergency medicine; Emergency Service, Hospital; Epistaxis - etiology; Epistaxis - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Hypertension - complications; hypertension detection; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; target organ damage
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1053/ajem.2002.31577

Epistaxis and hypertension are frequent in the general population, but an association is still controversial. Aim of this retrospective cohort study was to test if active epistaxis at emergency department (ED) presentation is associated with hypertension. Patients with active epistaxis at ED presentation (n = 271; 73%) were compared with controls without active bleeding (n = 101; 27%). By multivariate logistic regression modeling we found that active epistaxis was independently associated with history of hypertension (odds ratio 2.8 [95% CI 1.4 to 5.6; P =.004] adjusted for age, gender, rhinitis, diffuse bleeding, and malignant diseases). Patients with active epistaxis had higher blood pressure at presentation compared with controls (systolic blood pressure 165 v 153 mmHg, P