title: Blood pressure correlates in orthopaedic and plastic patients at a regional orthopaedic hospital in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Raised blood pressure is a significant surgical risk factor. Post operative complications are worse in both orthopaedic and plastic patients when there is associated hypertension. There has not been any known study on blood pressure variables in patients presenting at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. This informed the need for the authors to evaluate the blood pressure correlates in patients presenting at this hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, between June 2003 and September 2004, were recruited into the study. Their biodata, demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded under standard conditions. Their blood pressure awareness indices, lifestyle habits and co-morbid conditions were evaluated. Structured questionnaires were used with self administered screening done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and eighteen patients with mean age 41.4 (+/- 17.2) years, were screened, Fifty three percent of them were hypertensive, with 87% of these presenting as orthopaedic cases. While 68% irregularly or never checked their blood pressure, those who took alcohol had 54.5% among them, with hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown a high prevalence of hypertension among patients presenting at the study centre. There is also a high degree of association between the lifestyle habits and level of blood pressure. The implications of this for surgical outcome are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria. sobiajuluike@gmail.com
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ike
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Onah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D055815:Young Adult