Pevalence of prehypertension and assessment of cardiovascular function among prehypertensive undergraduate students in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of prehypertension and cardiovascular function in prehypertensive students of the College of Health Sciences, Okofia, Nnewi, Nigeria. A total of 210 apparently healthy respondents aged 18-28, were recruited for the initial screening. Their blood pressure readings and body mass index (BMI) were obtained, whereas 5mls of blood sample was collected from 18 prehypertensive and 19 normotensive subjects. Lipid profile was assayed using enzymatic method, while serum magnesium was analyzed using Xylidyl blue method. Results showed a comparatively low prehypertensive prevalence rate of 11.4%, with higher percentage in males (12.12%) than in females (10.81%). The mean values of BMI, SBP and DBP in prehypertensives (26.3±4.8, 126.7±5.8mmHg, 79.6±6.6mmHg) were significantly higher compared with values in normotensives (21.3±2.4, 107.7±9.1mmHg, 69.5±7.4mmHg) respectively (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in age of prehypertensives and normotensives (24.2±2.3 vs 24.0±2.2; P>0.05). HDL cholesterol and Mg were lower in prehypertensives (1.19±0.11mmol/l vs 1.27±0.11mmol/l; 1.60±0.65mmol/l vs 2.11±0.53mmol/l; P<0.05) respectively; but no significant difference in TG, TC and LDL between the groups (P>0.05). Importantly this preliminary study did show that TC, TG, and LDL still remained normal and this may be due to the age of the subject.