Cardiovascular risk factors in Nigerians with systemic hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is the commonest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it frequently coexists together with other risk factors, thereby increasing the absolute cardiovascular risk. This study is primarily aimed at assessing cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension in comparison with controls. It is also aimed at assessing target organ damage and absolute cardiovascular risk among the hypertensives.


METHODS
The study was case-control in design, conducted at the General outpatient and Cardiology Clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Three groups of patients (treated hypertensives, untreated hypertensives and controls), each 70 in number, were matched for age and sex. Patients were selected by balloting, using simple random sampling method.


RESULTS
The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor was Increased Body Mass Index, which was significantly more prevalent among treated (70%) than untreated (45.7%) hypertensives and controls (44.3%). Left Ventricular Hypertrophy was the most prevalent Target Organ Damage, found in 54.3% of treated and 42.9% of untreated hypertensives, and 0% of controls. Very high cardiovascular risk was detected in 75.6% of treated and 68.5% of untreated hypertensives.


CONCLUSIONS
Even before the commencement of treatment, hypertenisves had high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and evidence of target organ damage. These were more pronounced in treated hypertensives. The basis and prognosis are discussed.
Karaye
K M
KM
Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. kkaraye@yahoo.co.uk
Okeahialam
B N
BN
Wali
S S
SS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors