Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University

INT RODUCTIO N: Th e eld erly h ypert en si ve pa ti ent s of ten h aveincreased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and their attendantco-morbidities. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalenceof cardiometabolic risk factors and blood pressure control among elderlyhypertensive patients, and to determine the influence of modifiablecardiometabolic risk factors on the control of hypertension amongelderly hypertensive patients.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control comparative and hospital-based study involving a total of 190 consenting elderly (>65 years),hypertensive patients (subjects) (n=100) and normotensive controls(n=90) was carried out over a period of ten months. Using interviewer-administered questionnaire, biodata and information regarding theirlifestyle was obtained. Standard protocols were used to measure bloodpressure, weight, height, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucoseand fasting lipid profile of the subjects. Body mass index was derivedfrom weight and height.RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 71.5 ± 6.3 years and thecontrols was 72.3 ± 7.2 years. Forty-eight percent (48%) and 47.8% ofthe subjects and controls were females (p = 0.651). The level of controlof hyperten sion was poor in over two-thirds (68%) of the elderlyhypertensive patients. The prevalence of modifiable cardiometabolicrisk factors burden was higher in the hypertensive subjects when comparedwith the controls. Prevalence of Dyslipidaemia was 76% in the subjectsand 51% in the controls (p = 0.004). Prevalence of Diabetes Mellituswas 40% among the subjects and 17.8% in the controls (p = 0.0001);prevalence of Obesity was 24% in the subjects and 4.4% in the controls(p=<0.001); prevalence of excess alcohol intake was 49% in the subjectsand 14.4% in the controls (p=<0.001). Prevalence of sedentary lifestyle was high in both the subjects (53%) and controls (50%), p=0.679.Poor blood pressure control was predicted by dyslipidaemia and centralobesity.CONCLUSION: The level of control of hypertension was poor amongthe elderly and modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors were relativelyprevalent. Central obesity and dyslipidaemia were predictive of poorcontrol of hypertension. Addressing these factors may therefore improveblood pressure control

Obesity; overweight; and underweight among urban Nigerians

Background: Disease burden from communicable and noncommunicable diseases is a significant health challenge facing many developing nations. Among the noncommunicable diseases; is obesity; which has become a global epidemic associated with urbanization. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of weight abnormalities; their pattern of distribution and regional differences among apparently healthy urban dwelling Nigerians. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based descriptive survey was carried out in five urban cities; each from one geo-political zone of Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedures were used to select participants using the World Health Organization STEPS instrument. Ethical approval and consents were duly and respectively obtained from the Ethics Committee in the tertiary centers and participants in each of these cities. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp.; Amonk; NY; released 2011) with P value set at 0.05. Results: A total of 5392 participants were recruited; of which; 54.5 and 45.5 were males and females respectively. Mean (standard deviation) age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.6 (14.3) years and 25.3 (5.1) kg/m 2 . Obesity; overweight; and underweight were found in 17; 31; and 5 of participants respectively. Significantly; while underweight declined with increasing age; overweight; and obesity increased to peak in the middle age brackets. Age of ? 40 years was found to confer about twice the risk of becoming overweight. The prevalence of obesity and mean BMI were significantly higher both among the females and the participants from southern zones. Conclusion: Obesity and overweight are common in our urban dwellers with accompanying regional differences. Attainment of middle age increases the likelihood of urban dwelling Nigerians to become overweight/obese. There is therefore the need to institute measures that will check development of overweight/obesity early enough; while improving the nutritional status of the few who may still be undernourished

The Pattern of Hysterosalpingographic Findings in Women Being Investigated for Infertility in Nnewi; Nigeria

Background: Tubal occlusion is the commonest cause of female infertility in the developing societies. Hysterosalpingography remains a vital method of assessing tubal patency especially in resource limited settings such as ours. Objective: To review the pattern of hysterosalpingographic findings among women being investigated for infertility in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi; Nigeria over a period of five years (2001- 2005). Method: The data obtained from the request forms and radiologists' reports were analyzed using SPSS version 11. The level of statistical significance was set at p

The Prevalence and Bacteriology of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among Antenatal Patients in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi; South Eastern Nigeria

Urinary tract infection in pregnancy leads to poor pregnancy outcome. Diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria markedly improves pregnancy outcome as well as reduce the incidence of acute pyelonephritis. To determine the prevalence and bacteriology of asymptomatic bacteriuria among Antenatal patients in our centre; and to know if routine screening will be justifiable. This was a prospective study carried out between April and August 2008. Sample size was statistically determined.Women who consented were interviewed and mid stream urine samples were collected and processed in the microbiology laboratory; using standard microbiological methods. Out of 357 women studied; 65(18.21) had significant bacteriuria. was the commonest isolate (25.6); while was the least frequent isolate (3.66). Women in third trimester had the highest prevalence (25.68) while those in the first trimester had the least (15.79).Women that had only primary education had the highest prevalence (27.50) while those that had tertiary education had the least prevalence (21.10). The prevalence of significant asymptomatic bacteriuria among the women studied was high. Screening of all the pregnant women and treatment will reduce the incidence and complications of overt urinary tract infection in pregnancy among these women

The Pattern of Cervical Cytology in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinics in Nnewi; South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cervical cytology screening has decreased the incidence of and mortality from invasive cervical cancer in developed and even some developing countries. The story is still different in Nigeria because there is no national screening programme in place.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of cervical cytology and relate it to some known risk factors such as age; parity; age at coitarche; number of sexual partners and clinical presentation.Subjects and Methods: A total of 100 women were seen at two Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics in Nnewi over a three month period (May-July 2005) were screened. Conventional method of staining was used. The first fifty sexually active women that consented to completing the study questionnaire in the two clinics were included.Main Outcome Measures: The work noted the pattern of reports in relation to some known risk factors and adequacy of the sampling.Results: Sampling adequacy was 93; epithelial cell abnormality was reported in only one smear; 58 were reported as normal; 14 showed benign cellular changes (i.e. infective); and 18 reactive changes (i.e. atrophy). Conclusion: Now that infective aetiology has been established in cancer of the cervix; the co-factors may be some of these causes of benign cellular changes of the cervix