6 research outputs found
Case finding for hypertension in young adult patients attending a Missionary Hospital in Nigeria
Objectives: This study was carried out to search for cases of
undetected hypertension in young adult male and non-pregnant female
patients (18 - 44years) attending a catholic mission hospital in
Ibadan, Nigeria so as to provide evidence for routine blood pressure
checks in this age group. It also sought to determine risk factors
present in those found to be hypertensive and to detect complications
of hypertension, if present. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaire
was administered and physical examination was carried out on the
eligibles. Laboratory analysis of blood and urine was done for the
consenting subjects with confirmed hypertension. A descriptive,
hospital-based cross-sectional study, which took place at the
Out-Patients Department of St. Mary's Catholic General Hospital, Eleta,
Ibadan. Consecutive young adult male and non-pregnant female patients
aged18 - 44 years attending the hospital for the first time between
February 2007 and August 2007, that met the inclusion criteria and
consented to participation. Data Analysis: Frequency distribution was
done to describe the data, while cross-tabulation, t-test, chi-square
test and one-way ANOVA were done to explore association between
variables as appropriate. Results: Out of the 405 subjects that
participated in the study, 124(30.6%) were hypertensive. The mean age
of the subjects was 31.6 ±6.9 years. A total of 154 (38%) were
male and 251(62%) female. Mean BMI was 23.7±4.3 kg/m2. The study
revealed that age, occupation, body mass index, waist circumference and
hip circumference were significantly associated with high blood
pressure. Clinical evidence of target end-organ damage seen include
left ventricular hypertrophy in 22(17.7%) congestive cardiac failure in
3(2.4%), retinopathy in 5(4.0%), nephropathy in 12(26.1%) and transient
ischaemic attack in 1(0.8%). Conclusion: Undetected cases of
hypertension, with complications and target end-organ damage, exist in
young adults in Ibadan and family physicians and other primary care
physicians, especially in Nigeria, should pay attention to case finding
for hypertension in this age group