Prevalence of hypertension amongst persons with diabetes mellitus in Benin City, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hypertension amongst persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Benin city.


METHODS
Four hundred and fifty diabetic subjects were evaluated for hypertension by measuring their blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer at the diabetes clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital, both in Benin City, Nigeria. Other data obtained included age, sex, type of DM, weight, height, body mass index and waist hip ratio.


RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-four out of 450 subjects had hypertension, thus giving a prevalence rate of 54.2%. 124 males (50.8%) were hypertensive compared with 120 (49.2%) females, but this difference was not significant (χ2 = 0.1, df = 1, P > 0.05). Thirteen (22.4%) of the 58 Type 1 subjects had hypertension, while 231 (58.9%) of the Type 2 subjects had hypertension, and this difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 27, df = 1, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is prevalent in persons with DM. Studies have shown that adequate control of the blood pressure reduces the microvascular and macrovascular complications of DM. DM care providers must prescribe appropriate antihypertensive therapy to control hypertension in persons with DM.
Department of Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. bernadike@yahoo.com
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Unadike
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Eregie
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Ohwovoriole
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors