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

Abstract EN

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.