Association between Hypertension and Epistaxis: Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis. (25th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Min, Hyun Jin; Kang, Hyun; Choi, Geun Joo; Kim, Kyung Soo
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 157:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 921
• Page End: 927
• Publication Date: 2017-07-25
• Subjects: hypertension -- epistaxis -- risk factor -- meta‐analysis -- systematic review; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599817721445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Whether there is an association or a cause‐and‐effect relationship between epistaxis and hypertension is a subject of longstanding controversy. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to determine the association between epistaxis and hypertension and to verify whether hypertension is an independent risk factor of epistaxis. Data Sources: A comprehensive search was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Review Methods: The review was performed according to the Meta‐analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis guidelines. Results: We screened 2768 unique studies and selected 10 for this meta‐analysis. Overall, the risk of epistaxis was significantly increased for patients with hypertension (odds ratio, 1.532 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.181‐1.986]; number needed to treat, 14.9 [95% CI, 12.3‐19.0]). Results of the Q test and I 2 statistics suggested considerable heterogeneity ( P χ 2 = 0.038, I 2 = 49.3%). The sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding 1 study at a time, and it revealed no change in statistical significance. Conclusion: Although this meta‐analysis had some limitations, our study demonstrated that hypertension was significantly associated with the risk of epistaxis. However, since this association does not support a causal relationship between hypertension and epistaxis, further clinical trials with large patient populations will be required to determine the impact of hypertension on epistaxis.