Risk Factors of Dyslipidaemia in a Cohort of Geriatric Nigerians with Essential Hypertension in a Rural Hospital in Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Evidence has demonstrated the metabolic relationship between dyslipidaemia and hypertension which are independent cardio-metabolic risk factors. As socio-economic and environmental dynamics in rural Nigeria changes, geriatric Nigerians tend to adopt lifestyles that predispose to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Aim: This study was designed to determine the risk factors of dyslipidaemia in a cohort of geriatric Nigerians with essential hypertension in a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study conducted on a cohort of 122 geriatric Nigerians with essential hypertension. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria between June 2008 and June 2011. Methodology: Risk factor variables were examined using a pretested, structured and intervieweradministered questionnaire. Hypertension and dyslipidaemia were defined using JNC VII and The Third Report of National Cholesterol Education Panel in adult (ATP III) criteria respectively. Results: The risk factors significantly associated with dyslipidaemia were advanced old age (p=.039), abdominal obesity (p=.022) and physical inactivity (p=.042). The abdominally obese patients were three times more likely to have dyslipidaemia compared to the non-abdominally obese patients. Conclusion: Risk factors of dyslipidaemia exist in geriatric Nigerians with essential hypertension. Dyslipidaemia was significantly associated with advanced old age, abdominal obesity and physical inactivity. These risk factors should be considered alongside the complex of other cardio-metabolic risk factors during clinical encounter with geriatric hypertensives.