[Disability caused by essential hypertension complications in Sarajevo Canton in the period 1998-1999].

The aim of this study was to assess working ability of persons suffering from some of essential hypertension (EH) complications in Canton Sarajevo in the period of two years (01.01.1998-31.12.1999). Recorded complications included: congestive heart failure (CHF), heart attack (HA), angina pectoris (AP) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The study included 606 persons with EH with clinically verified complications, out of whom there were 416 males of average age of 53.4 (+/- 14.7) years, and 190 females of average age of 50.3 (+/- 12.8) years. There were 377 (62.2%) persons assessed with complete loss of working capability, 126 (20.8%) with limited working capability and only 103 (16.9%) were found without disability in regard to the tasks required in their job description. It was confirmed that EH complications have significant impact to disability among insurants in their most productive working age. CHF is the leading cause of complete loss of working capability, particularly in the group of labour workers with low qualification structure, followed by CVD, HA and AP. Disability-loss and limited working capability was dependant on sex, age, type of complication, qualification structure and the type of occupation. The results of this study indicate urgent need for establishing a more efficient concept of primary prevention as well as better and comprehensive treatment of the EH in order to reduce morbidity and disability among the working age population.