ABSTRACT
Objective: Microalbuminuria (MA) is a marker of vascular damage and has prognostic implications in hypertension.The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of MA increases the risk of hypertensive retinal damage in nondiabetic adult Nigerians with hypertension.Materials and Methods: A total of 96 consecutive newly diagnosed hypertensive patients attending the outpatient clinic and who consented and met the criteria for the study were recruited. There was also the same number of age- and sex-matched normotensive controls.Results: MA was present in 31 (32.3%) of the patients and 6 (6.3%) of the controls. The mean (±SD) ages of patients with and without MA were 52.5 ± 11.9 years and 48.3 ± 13.0 years, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.03)and mean arterial pressure (P = 0.01) were statistically higher in hypertensive patients with MA than in their counterparts without it. Patients with MA were more likely to have hypertensive retinopathy (HRP) than patients without it (71% vs37%, P = 0.001). Advanced HRP, i.e., Grades III - IV, was more common in patients with MA than in those without it(22.6% vs 1.5%).Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of HRP in Nigerian hypertensives with MA
Subject(s)
DNA Damage , Diabetic Nephropathies , Hypertension , Hypertensive RetinopathySubject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents , Blood Pressure , Diabetes Mellitus , Disease Management , HypertensionABSTRACT
This study has assessed the risk of future development of type 2 diabetes among Nigerian healthcare workers. Using a validated risk assessment tool; 106 health workers were assessed including doctors; nurses; physiotherapists; laboratory staff; etc. Ten-year diabetes risk was higher in females; who also had higher levels of risk. Overall; 44had an elevated risk; though in only one-third was the risk above the `moderate' level. Nevertheless; these risk profiles in health workers are significant; and demonstrate that all sectors of society (including those with specialist knowledge) are susceptible to the developing epidemic of type 2 diabetes