Abstract

Aim: To study the features and causes of dyspnea in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).

Methods: A total of 112 hypertensive patients aged 35 to 68 years were examined, including 45 with stage I AH, and 67 with stage II. Patients noted dyspnea that did not correspond to the severity of morphofunctional changes in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. ECG, chest X-ray, ECHO-cardiography, spirometry, analysis of gas and acid-base state of blood, capnography were performed. The severity of dyspnea was assessed using the Borg scale and visual analogue scale (VAS). To identify hypocapnic conditions, the degree of their severity, we used a questionnaire from the Department of Pulmonology, Nijmegen University.

Results: In 63 patients with hypertension (46 patients with stage I, 17 with stage II) hypocapnic type of ventilation was noted. The severity of dyspnea reached 6-7 points on the Borg scale and VAS. The hypercapnic type of respiratory disorders was diagnosed in 22 patients with hypertension. Instability of ventilation types was noted in 7 patients with stage II hypertension, and in 4 patients with stage I hypertension and 16 patients with stage II hypertension, normocapnic type of ventilation with respiratory arrhythmias was noted.

Conclusion: In AH stages I and II, there may be functional breathing disorders, which can be objectified by capnographic investigation. The questionnaire of the Department of Pulmonology of the University of Nijmegen (Holland) allows to identify hypocapnic conditions and determine their severity.

Keywords: Arterial hypertension, hyperventilation syndrome, dyspnea.