Increased prevalence of essential hypertension amongst Nigerian IBO Women of reproductive age?

Abstract

In a cross-sectional study of the blood pressure distribution of 542 healthy non-pregnant Nigerian women, the mean +2SD of the measured casual blood pressure was 133/90mmHg. The prevalence of hypertension amongst these women was 8.5%. The epidemiological determinants of blood pressure were found to be similar to those of other populations. Comparatively, 478 healthy unmatched pregnant women were longitudinally studied from booking before 13 weeks gestation to 6 weeks postpartum. The incidence of hypertension from booking till one hour postpartum period was 21.6%. At 6 weeks postpartum, the prevalence of hypertension was 7.3%, this most probably representing undiagnosed essential hypertension. It was concluded that the baseline blood pressures of Nigerian women of reproductive age appear to have risen resulting in an increased incidence of essential hypertension amongst the women.

Keywords

• increased prevalence
• essential hypertension
• pregnant
• non-pregnant
• nigeria