# High Prevalence and Low Awareness of Hypertension in a Market Population in Enugu, Nigeria

Authors: Ifeoma I. Ulasi; Chinwuba K. Ijoma; Basden J. C. Onwubere; Ejikeme Arodiwe; Obinna Onodugo; Christian Okafor
Journal: International Journal of Hypertension
 (2011)

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## Abstract

Background. A community-based study put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8%. Market workers in Nigeria lead sedentary life style and often depend on salt-laden fast food while at work.
Method. An unselected population of market workers were screened for hypertension and its risk factors by a pretested, structured questionnaire, clinical examination, and laboratory investigation. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 140 and/or ≥ 90 mmHg or being on drug therapy.
Results. Forty-two percent of the screened population were hypertensive. Of this number, 70.6% did not know they were hypertensive before the screening. More males than females (P=.022) were hypertensive. Prevalence of hypertension increased with age from 5.4% in the age group <20 years to 80% in the age group ≥70 years.
Conclusion. The prevalence of hypertension in market workers in this study was 42%, and the majority of them were unaware of their disease.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Hypertension is the commonest noncommunicable disease and the leading cause of cardiovascular disease in the world [1, 2]. It is an important public health challenge in both economically developing and developed countries. Many people with hypertension are unaware of their condition, and among those with hypertension, treatment is infrequent and inadequate. The prevalence of hypertension varies around the world with the lowest prevalence in rural India (3.4% in men and 6.8% in women) and the highest prevalence in Poland (68.9% in men and 72.5% in women). The global prevalence of hypertension has been increasing. In 2000, 972 million people had hypertension with a prevalence rate of 26.4%. These are projected to increase to 1.54 billion affected individuals and a prevalence rate of 29.2% in 2025 [2].  Incidence rates of hypertension range from 3% to 18% depending on the age, gender, ethnicity, and body size of the population studied [3]. A recent community based study of rural and semiurban population in Enugu, Nigeria put the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria at 32.8% [4]. Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with serious end-organ damage including heart disease, stroke, blindness, and renal disease [5–7]. These serious complications of hypertension can be prevented by adequate blood pressure control [8, 9]. Prevention programmes start with screening to identify the population at risk and treatment. To determine the crude prevalence of hypertension and awareness and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a market population, the authors undertook a screening exercise on the 13th of May 2006 in Ogbete market in Enugu, Nigeria.


## 2. Materials and Methods

The Ogbete main market population consist of traders and artisans. Prior radio and television announcements invited participants to the screening site on the appointed day. The exercise was executed with the approval and cooperation of the leadership of the market workers. The screening exercise was executed in stages. Stage 1, a structured questionnaire was completed on behalf of each respondent. The questionnaire addressed biodata, family history of hypertension and habits and practices that affect hypertension and educational status. The educational status of the study population was assessed using the highest educational attainment categorized as no education, primary school education, secondary school education, and tertiary education. Stage 2, anthropometric data collection and dipstick urine test for protein and sugar. Stage 3, measurement of blood pressure and pulse. Stage 4, counselling and referral to hospital.Hypertension was defined and classified according to the WHO/ISH guidelines [10].Blood pressure was taken from the nondominant arm after 10 minutes of rest using appropriate cuff size and Accoson brand of mercury sphygmomanometer. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were the first and fifth Korotkoff sounds, respectively. The mean of three readings, five minutes apart, was determined. Hypertension was defined as SBP greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or DBP equal to or greater than 90 mmHg [11].  Hypertension was classified thus:(i)
mild: SBP 140–159 mmHg and/or DBP 90–99 mmHg;(ii)
moderate: SBP 160–179 mmHg and/or DBP 100–109 mmHg;(iii)
severe: SBP ≥ 180 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 110 mmHg.The body mass index (BMI) of Quetelet was calculated using weight in kilogram divided by the square of the height in metre. The BMI was classified using the WHO classification of BMI [12]. Waist circumference was measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower most margin of the ribs with bare belly and at the end of normal expiration, and the hip girth was measured at the intertrochanteric level according to the WHO guidelines. The waist-hip ratio was also calculated using standard method. WHR > 0.85 for females and > 0.90 for males were considered abnormal [13]. The waist circumference of >80 cm for females and 94 cm for male respondents were considered abnormal [13].The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 15.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. For continuous variables, mean values and standard deviations were calculated and the means compared using ANOVA or two samplet-test. Categorical variables were compared using the nonparametric tests-Chi-squares. The cross-tabulation was used to analyze the relationship between the BMI, grades of blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and sex in the respondents. Pearson’s correlation for parametric and Spearman’ rho correlation for nonparametric data were used to assess the relationship between age, blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and anthropometric data in respondents. Significant variables were further analyzed using the stepwise method of multiple linear regression analysis to isolate predictors of SBP and DBP. All tests were two-tailed with P<.05 taken as statistically significant.


## 3. Results

A total of 731 (379 male and 352 female) were screened and 688 (354 males and 334 females) had analyzable data. Forty nine could not be analyzed because of incomplete data.  The characteristics of the study population are shown in Table1.Table 1
Characteristics of the study population.
ParameterAll subjectsMaleFemaleP valueN=688N=354N=334Mean age (years38.02±13.3239.62±13.6936.31±12.72.001Mean BMI (Kg/m2)26.05±5.0325.14±4.0127.00±5.77<.001Mean WC (cm)86.48±13.8285.64±12.1687.34±15.01.136Mean WHR0.88±0.080.90±0.080.86±0.08<.001Mean SBP (mmHg)129.21±20.77130.99±19.82127.32±21.60.020Mean DBP (mmHg)84.51±14.5085.39±14.3283.58±14.66.102Mean MAP (mmHg)99.36±16.22100.43±16.0798.23±16.32.075Abbreviations. BMI: body mass index, WC: waist circumference, WHR: waist-hip-ratio, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, MAP: mean arterial pressure.Analysis showed that all participants achieved some level of education with the following distribution: 65.7% achieved primary school education, 25.4% achieved secondary school education and 8.9% achieved tertiary education.For all the respondents, 42.2% were found to be hypertensive (males 46.3%, females 37.7%) More males than females had hypertension,P=.022. Of this number, 29.4% (males 30.8%, females 27.7%) knew they were hypertensive prior to the screening and 70.6% (males 81.0%, females 62.1%) were diagnosed at the screening, Figure 1.  The screening further showed that 69.5% had normal SBP (<140 mmHg) whereas 30.5% had elevated SBP (140–159—18.5%; 160–179—9.6%; ≥180—2.5%). Also 61.3% had normal DBP (<90 mmHg) whereas 38.7% had elevated DBP (90–99—16.3%; 100–109—14.4%; ≥110–8.0%). Prevalence of hypertension increased with age ranging from 5.4% in the less than 20 years age group to 80% in the ≥70 years age group, (Figure 2). Only 4.3% of the respondents had proteinuria. The rest, 95.7%, had no proteinuria. Also only 3.0% had glycosuria.Figure 1
Proportion of hypertension in the study population.Figure 2
Prevalence of hypertension by age group and sex.Forty-six percent of the respondents had normal BMI (18.5–24.99), and 22.6% were obese with BMI ≥ 30. Forty five percent of the respondents had high waist-hip ratio (>.85 for men and >.90 for females). Also 29.2% of the respondents had high waist circumference (>94 cm male, 80 cm female).Pearson correlation and Spearman’ rho correlation analyses as appropriate (Table2) showed that age, sex, smoking, use of tobacco snuff, alcohol consumption, BMI, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, and educational status all correlated with hypertension. Linear regression analysis, (Table 3), showed that of all these variables, only age and BMI predicted presence of hypertension.Table 2
Correlation analysis of hypertension and risk factors for hypertension.
rP-valueAge−.411<.001Sex−.088.022Smoking−.095.016Tobacco snuff−.169.001Alcohol−.270<.001BMI−.344<.001WHR−.290<.001WC−.367<.001Educational status.128.001Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index, WHR: waist-hip ratio, WC: waist circumference.Table 3
Regression analysis of hypertension and variables.
Unstandardized coefficientstP valueBStd ErrorConstant2.207.4115.375.000Age−.009.002−3.646.000Sex−.049.058−.844.399Smoking−.015.068−.218.828Snuff tobacco.157.0931.683.094Alcohol−.048.020−2.463.014BMI−.023.006−3.906.000WHR.104.407.255.799Educational status.065.0461.409.160


## 4. Discussion

### 4.1. Prevalence of Hypertension

In this study, the prevalence of hypertension was 42.2%. In a national survey of noncommunicable disease in Nigeria in 1997, the crude prevalence of hypertension using a definition of 160/95 mmHg was 11.2% overall, (11.1% males, 11.2% females) [14].  Analysis of the data in that study using DBP ≥ 90 mmHg as definition, gave a crude prevalence of 17.6%.  In a study, of seven populations of West African origin by Cooper et al. [15], in 1997, the prevalence of hypertension was 16% in Nigeria and Cameroon. These two studies were conducted a decade ago. However, recently, Addo et al. [16], and Ulasi et al. [4] have documented very high prevalence of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in urban areas, and poor control of hypertension in the subregion. It is possible that the very high prevalence of hypertension in our study group represents the increasing prevalence in hypertension noted across the globe. The high prevalence of hypertension in our study group may be explained in part by the sedentary lifestyle, of the market people most of whom sit in one place and conduct their businesses. Apart from leading sedentary life style most of them do not have regular exercise. Also these market workers spend most of the day at the market and therefore depend on food vendors and fast food for most of their meals. The food from these sources is salt laden to improve taste. The typical local meal consists mainly of root crops of yam and processed cassava eaten with a soup or stew, prepared with a vegetable to which pieces of fish and meat are added. The root crops are low in mineral content including sodium [17]. The local meal itself is usually low in salt [18]. However, food vendors at the market use a lot of salt and seasoning to improve the taste of food. In addition, “Western” fast food joints offering meat pie, doughnut, hambugers, and beefburgers are now commonplace at the market. These processed food items are high in salt content.These findings underscore the need for   public health efforts to increase awareness and treatment among market workers. These efforts have been found effective in some at risk groups [19].


### 4.2. Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension

The low level of awareness of hypertension is a global phenomenon [20, 21]. As recently as 2007, Omuemu et al. [22] documented an awareness rate of 18.55 in Edo state, Nigeria. The overall poor level of education may partially explain the low level of awareness in this population.Enugu state has 1017 registered doctors serving a population of 3,257,298 according to the 2006 population census [23] with a ratio of 31 per 100,000 people.   Although this is slightly higher than the national average of 28 per 100,000 [24], it is still far below the WHO recommendation of 1 to 600.   This low doctor patient ratio in the study, area may affect accessibility to health care and may explain in part the low awareness of the study population. In this study, only 29.4% of the hypertensive patients were aware of their hypertension. This is however in consonance with the general trend of low level awareness of the disease worldwide.


### 4.3. Age Distribution of Hypertension

In this study the prevalence of hypertension increased with age ranging from 5% in the age group less than twenty years to 80% in the age group ≥70 years (Table3).  This trend of increasing prevalence of hypertension is a global phenomenon.


### 4.4. Risk Factors for Hypertension

Processed high-salt food, calorically dense food, and cigarette smoking are some of the causes of CVD epidemic.  A recent community-based study by Ulasi et al. [4] of hypertension and cardiometabolic syndrome in Nigeria found that the prevalence of obesity was 11.7% in rural communities and 19.2% in semiurban communities. The higher prevalence of obesity in the semiurban communities was attributed in part to adoption of Western lifestyle including diet.  The values are lower than the prevalence of obesity of 22.6% in market workers in this study. There is a direct relationship between obesity and hypertension.The prevalence of overweight/obesity in this study population and the food habit may explain in part the very high prevalence of hypertension.


## 4.1. Prevalence of Hypertension

In this study, the prevalence of hypertension was 42.2%. In a national survey of noncommunicable disease in Nigeria in 1997, the crude prevalence of hypertension using a definition of 160/95 mmHg was 11.2% overall, (11.1% males, 11.2% females) [14].  Analysis of the data in that study using DBP ≥ 90 mmHg as definition, gave a crude prevalence of 17.6%.  In a study, of seven populations of West African origin by Cooper et al. [15], in 1997, the prevalence of hypertension was 16% in Nigeria and Cameroon. These two studies were conducted a decade ago. However, recently, Addo et al. [16], and Ulasi et al. [4] have documented very high prevalence of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in urban areas, and poor control of hypertension in the subregion. It is possible that the very high prevalence of hypertension in our study group represents the increasing prevalence in hypertension noted across the globe. The high prevalence of hypertension in our study group may be explained in part by the sedentary lifestyle, of the market people most of whom sit in one place and conduct their businesses. Apart from leading sedentary life style most of them do not have regular exercise. Also these market workers spend most of the day at the market and therefore depend on food vendors and fast food for most of their meals. The food from these sources is salt laden to improve taste. The typical local meal consists mainly of root crops of yam and processed cassava eaten with a soup or stew, prepared with a vegetable to which pieces of fish and meat are added. The root crops are low in mineral content including sodium [17]. The local meal itself is usually low in salt [18]. However, food vendors at the market use a lot of salt and seasoning to improve the taste of food. In addition, “Western” fast food joints offering meat pie, doughnut, hambugers, and beefburgers are now commonplace at the market. These processed food items are high in salt content.These findings underscore the need for   public health efforts to increase awareness and treatment among market workers. These efforts have been found effective in some at risk groups [19].


## 4.2. Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension

The low level of awareness of hypertension is a global phenomenon [20, 21]. As recently as 2007, Omuemu et al. [22] documented an awareness rate of 18.55 in Edo state, Nigeria. The overall poor level of education may partially explain the low level of awareness in this population.Enugu state has 1017 registered doctors serving a population of 3,257,298 according to the 2006 population census [23] with a ratio of 31 per 100,000 people.   Although this is slightly higher than the national average of 28 per 100,000 [24], it is still far below the WHO recommendation of 1 to 600.   This low doctor patient ratio in the study, area may affect accessibility to health care and may explain in part the low awareness of the study population. In this study, only 29.4% of the hypertensive patients were aware of their hypertension. This is however in consonance with the general trend of low level awareness of the disease worldwide.


## 4.3. Age Distribution of Hypertension

In this study the prevalence of hypertension increased with age ranging from 5% in the age group less than twenty years to 80% in the age group ≥70 years (Table3).  This trend of increasing prevalence of hypertension is a global phenomenon.


## 4.4. Risk Factors for Hypertension

Processed high-salt food, calorically dense food, and cigarette smoking are some of the causes of CVD epidemic.  A recent community-based study by Ulasi et al. [4] of hypertension and cardiometabolic syndrome in Nigeria found that the prevalence of obesity was 11.7% in rural communities and 19.2% in semiurban communities. The higher prevalence of obesity in the semiurban communities was attributed in part to adoption of Western lifestyle including diet.  The values are lower than the prevalence of obesity of 22.6% in market workers in this study. There is a direct relationship between obesity and hypertension.The prevalence of overweight/obesity in this study population and the food habit may explain in part the very high prevalence of hypertension.


## 5. Conclusion

The prevalence of hypertension in market workers in this study was 42.2%, and, majority of them were unaware of their disease. The high prevalence marks market workers as special at-risk group for hypertension. This is a major public health challenge. The high prevalence of hypertension in this group may be explained in part by their sedentary lifestyle, salt-laden fast food, and obesity. This subpopulation needs special attention including intensive health education in hypertension management. Large scale population screening for hypertension is warranted and adequate blood pressure control is imperative to mitigate the mortality and morbidity associated with hypertension. About a fifth of the study population were obese. It is time to emphasize weight management to avoid the looming pandemic of obesity.


## 6. Limitation of Study

This study was carried out on an unselected group of market people. The diagnosis of hypertension was based on a mean of three blood pressure measurements at one sitting and this may have affected the overall prevalence of hypertension in this study.



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