title: Relevance of routine blood pressure assessment among dental patients in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relevance of routine blood pressure (BP) measurement in patients attending the dental clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective survey of patients who attended the dental clinic in the Preventive Dentistry Department of a tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria over an eighteen month period. Data retrieved from the patient's hospital records included age, sex, BP and history of hypertension. Data was analyzed using Epi info 2011 package. p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1910 patients' records were assessed. Females represented 53.4% (n = 1020) of the study population. The mean age was 37.1 ± 15.0 years (range 18-88 years). The prevalence of hypertension was 39.9% (n = 763). Hypertension was stage 1 in 25.5%, stage 2 in 9.8% and severe in 4.6% of the dental patients. Past medical history of hypertension was obtained for 952 patients (49.8%). Of the 763 patients with high blood pressure, 14.8% had a known history of hypertension, while 42.1% were previously undiagnosed (p < 0.0001). Systolic and diastolic BP increased with increasing age (p < 0.05) and was significantly higher in males than females (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of hypertension noted among the study population with its potential consequence during dental procedures makes the measurement of blood pressure a valuable assessment in a dental clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of hypertension particularly the previously undiagnosed cases among the dental patients highlights the relevance of routine blood pressure assessment prior to dental procedures in contemporary dental practice, so as to minimize the potential complications that could occur.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Consultant Periodontologist, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, Phone: 2348055451018, e-mail: kumeiz09@gmail. com.
authors.forename: Kehinde Adesola
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Umeizudike
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Consultant Periodontologist, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Patricia Omowunmi
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ayanbadejo
authors.affiliation: Consultant Nephrologist, Department of Medicine (Nephrology Unit) Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Theophilus Ifeanyichukwu
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Umeizudike
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Consultant Orthodontist, Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Gerald Ikenna
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Isiekwe
authors.affiliation: Professor of Periodontology, Department of Preventive Dentistry Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kofoworola Olaide
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult