Background:

Evidence from previous studies has consistently revealed that patients develop target organ damage even with seemingly normal blood pressure thus informing the development of a new treatment guideline in 2017. The prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria ranges from 8-45%, however this is expected to change due to the new guideline. Thus, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of hypertension based on 2017 ACC/AHA clinical guidelines, and determine its associated factors.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study a total of 296 participants were recruited with a simple random technique using a table of random numbers. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured and data was analysed with SPSS version 22. The primary outcome measures included proportion of respondents with hypertension based on AHA guideline and JNC 7 classifications, as well as the association between hypertension and BMI, age, sex and marital status.

Results:

The mean age of study participants was 38.71years, and male to female ratio was 2:3. Overall prevalence of hypertension was 63.5% and 22.6% based on the new guideline and JNC 7 classification respectively; higher risk of hypertension was significantly associated with the AHA guideline (p< 0.001). Association between body mass index, marital status (currently married/not married), sex, age group (≥40 vs. < 40years) and systolic as well as diastolic hypertension was significant (p< 0.001). Females were more than twice as likely to be hypertensive as males [OR: 2.51 (1.54 - 4.10)]. Age and weight were the only significant predictors of abnormal blood pressure, diastolic and systolic hypertension.

Conclusion:

Prevalence of hypertension based on the new guideline is staggeringly high and portends a huge public health problem. This conundrum requires immediate intervention in order to forestall the damaging effects of hypertension on vital body organs and for participants to lead a healthy life.

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