A retrospective cross-sectional study of the prevalence of hypertension and its co-morbidities in a Nigerian medical center

Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for other life threatening conditions like stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, vascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Many times, hypertension presents with other comorbidities further worsening prognosis and quality of life of the patients.
Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and other comorbidities among patients accessing specialist care.
Method: A cross sectional design which obtained data from case files of patients who visited the hospital for follow-up in August, 2022. 251 participants were selected by randomization technique. Analyses were done using RStudio version 4.2.1 at 95% confidence interval and 0.05 level of significance.
Result: The results showed that, 50.6% of the participants were males, the mean age of the participants was 53 years with a mean BP of 126.2/77.7 mmHg. The Tiv ethnicity formed the majority (57.8%) of the sample population. The prevalence of hypertension was estimated at 54.2%. A linear correlation was found between SBP and age adjusted for marital status among non-hypertensive participants (R2 = 26.3%, p<0.05). Diabetes was the most prevalent comorbidity (24.3%). ACE inhibitors and ARBs were the most prescribed antihypertensive agents (72.8%) with dual therapy (41.2%) being the most utilized pharmacotherapeutic approach. Only about 61.8% hypertensive participants had their BP under control.
In conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high in the FMC, Makurdi. A positive linear correlation between SBP and age was seen. Although the outcome rate was above average, it was still seen as a huge public health concern.