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Pattern of some risk factors for cardiovascular disease in untreated Nigerian hypertensive patients

E K Oghagbon1, A B Okesina

  • 1Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Clinical Science, College of Medicine, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State. efosaoghagbon@yahoo.com

West African Journal of Medicine
|December 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Untreated hypertension is linked to higher cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and BMI. These cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia and overweight, are present before treatment begins.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease risk factors often cluster with hypertension.
  • Previous Nigerian studies focused on treated hypertensive patients.
  • The risk factor profile in untreated hypertensive individuals remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in untreated hypertensive patients in Nigeria.
  • To compare lipid profiles and body mass index (BMI) between untreated hypertensives and normotensive controls.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 50 untreated hypertensive and 50 normotensive individuals.
  • Exclusion of conditions causing dyslipidemia.
  • Measurement of plasma lipids (Total Cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C), Fasting Plasma Glucose, and BMI.

Main Results:

  • Hypertension prevalence increased with age.
  • Untreated hypertensives exhibited significantly higher plasma Total Cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and BMI compared to normotensives.
  • Overweight was more prevalent in hypertensives (70%), with females comprising 53% of overweight hypertensive individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Dyslipidemia associated with hypertension is evident prior to antihypertensive therapy.
  • Findings suggest that overweight hypertensive patients may benefit from integrated blood pressure and weight management.
  • The presence of these risk factors before treatment initiation should inform antihypertensive drug prescription strategies.
Abstract

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