CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 24, No 9/10, October/November 2013
344
AFRICA
Cardiovascular Topics
Prevalence and risk factors for hypertension and
association with ethnicity in Nigeria: results from a
national survey
GUDLAVALLETI VS MURTHY, SAMANTHA FOX, SELVARAJ SIVASUBRAMANIAM, CLARE E GILBERT,
ABDULL M MAHDI, ABDULLAHI U IMAM, GABRIEL ENTEKUME, on behalf of the Nigeria National Blindness
and Visual Impairment study group
Abstract
Background:
Non-communicable diseases are now a global
priority. We report on the prevalence of hypertension and its
risk factors, including ethnicity, in a nationally representa-
tive sample of Nigerian adults recruited to a survey of visual
impairment.
Methods:
A multi-stage, stratified, cluster random sample
with probability proportional to size procedures was used to
obtain a nationally representative sample of 13 591 subjects
aged
≥
40 years. Of these, 13 504 (99.4%) had a blood pres-
sure measurement.
Results:
The prevalence of hypertension was 44.9% [95%
confidence interval (CI): 43.5–46.3%]. Increasing age, gender,
urban residence and body mass index were independent risk
factors (
p
<
0.001). The Kanuri ethnic group had the highest
prevalence of hypertension (77.5%, 95% CI: 71.0–84.0%).
Conclusions:
The high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria
is a cause for concern and suggests that it is inevitable that
the impact of hypertension-related ill health is imminent,
with the accompanying financial and societal costs to fami-
lies and the state of Nigeria.
Keywords:
hypertension, ethnicity, Nigeria, survey
Submitted 31/1/13, accepted 14/8/13
Published online 11/9/13
Cardiovasc J Afr
2013;
24
: 344–350
DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2013-058
Hypertension is increasingly being recognised as an important
public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, with 26.9% of
men and 28.4% of women in 2000 being estimated to have
hypertension.
1
Although lower than the prevalence in high-
income countries (37.4% in men and 37.2% in women), in terms
of numbers of people affected, the burden of hypertension in
low- and middle-income countries is greater due to the large
population.
1
Hypertension has been recognised as a strong independent risk
factor for heart disease and stroke and a predictor of premature
death and disability from cardiovascular complications.
2
It
has been reported that 13.5% of deaths and 6% of disability-
adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributed to hypertension
globally, and for low- and middle income people, these figures
were 12.9 and 5.6%, respectively over the period 1990 to 2001.
3
Although infectious diseases remain the leading cause of
mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of
cardiovascular disease and hypertension is rising rapidly.
4
It has been emphasised that urbanisation is a key reason for
the increasing rates of hypertension, as evidenced by the higher
Indian Institute of Public Health, Public Health Foundation
of India, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
GUDLAVALLETI VS MURTHY, MD, MSc,
International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Clinical
Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
SAMANTHA FOX, MD, MPH
SELVARAJ SIVASUBRAMANIAM, MSc
CLARE E GILBERT, MD, MSc, FRCOphth
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital,
Bauchi, Nigeria
ABDULL M MAHDI, FMCOphth, MSc
Ministry of Health, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
ABDULLAHI U IMAM, DO, MSc
Vision Health Services, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria
GABRIEL ENTEKUME, OD
Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment study group:
International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, Africa
region, Ibadan, Nigeria
ABIOSE ADENIKE
Ophthalmology Department, Lions Eye Centre, Isolo
General Hospital, Lagos Sate, Nigeria
OLUFUNMILAYO O BANKOLE
Ministry of Health Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
C EZELUM
National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria
FATIMA KYARI
MANSUR M RABIU
Sight Savers West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana
HANNAH FAAL
Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London,
London, UK
PAK SANG LEE
Ministry of Health, Dutse, Jigawa State Nigeria
ABUBAKAR TAFIDA
