Blood pressure control in treated hypertensive Nigerians in South-South Nigeria: Experience from Benin city

Abstract

Background: Systemic hypertension is the most common noncommunicable disease in Nigeria with a plethora of associated clinical conditions and target organ damage. Adequate blood pressure (Bp) reduction with antihypertensive medication is expected to reduce mortality and morbidity. However, although Bp is easy to measure and hypertension responds well to therapy, a significant number of hypertensive patients on medication are not well controlled and hence remain at risk for the complications of hypertension, since a significant number of patients do not reach the goal Bp of ≤140/90 mmHg. Methods: Case notes of 826 hypertensive patients seen over the past 5 years, who have had a minimum period of treatment of 6 months at the Medical Outpatient Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, were retrospectively evaluated. All had antihypertensive medication prescribed and subjectively reported compliance with medications. Adequate Bp control was defined as a systolic Bp of <140 mmHg and a diastolic Bp of <90 mmHg according to the JNC VII definition. Results: There were 826 patients: 353 males and 473 females. Age range was 18–96 years. Mean age was males – 56.54 (±17.34) years and females – 53.83 (±15.1) years. Bp levels of <140/90 mmHg were found in a total of 40.92% of treated patients. Males had a total of 126 controlled out of 353 (35.69%) and females had a total of 212 controlled out of 473 (44.82%). Conclusion: Despite pharmacologic treatment, less than half of our treated patients were able to achieve adequate Bp control. These poor Bp control rates tend to reflect global trends. There is a need to objectively assess factors involved in Bp control so as to achieve a better outcome.