title: High prevalence and low awareness of hypertension in a market population in enugu, Nigeria.
abstract: Background. A community-based study put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8%. Market workers in Nigeria lead sedentary life style and often depend on salt-laden fast food while at work. Method. An unselected population of market workers were screened for hypertension and its risk factors by a pretested, structured questionnaire, clinical examination, and laboratory investigation. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 140 and/or ≥ 90 mmHg or being on drug therapy. Results. Forty-two percent of the screened population were hypertensive. Of this number, 70.6% did not know they were hypertensive before the screening. More males than females (P = .022) were hypertensive. Prevalence of hypertension increased with age from 5.4% in the age group <20 years to 80% in the age group ≥70 years. Conclusion. The prevalence of hypertension in market workers in this study was 42%, and the majority of them were unaware of their disease.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu 400001, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ifeoma I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ulasi
authors.forename: Chinwuba K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ijoma
authors.forename: Basden J C
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Onwubere
authors.forename: Ejikeme
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arodiwe
authors.forename: Obinna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onodugo
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okafor