Profile of some risk factors for coronary heart disease in a developing country: Nigeria.

The profile of some risk factors for coronary heart disease was studied in 557 male and 325 female Nigerians aged 20 years and above from the low and medium income groups, respectively. Except for the weight of subjects in the low income level, values of all physical characteristics were significantly higher in females than males (P < 0.01). In the 20-39 years age group, the systolic blood pressure was higher in males than females, and among the medium income group than the low income group (P < 0.01); but this difference disappeared in the higher age groups. The mean diastolic blood pressure was higher (but not statistically significant) at medium income levels than low income levels (P > 0.05). In each age group, the mean plasma total cholesterol was significantly higher in the medium income group than in the low income group (P < 0.01). The percentage of smokers and alcohol consumers were higher in the high income group than the low income group (P < 0.01). A high percentage of the smokers and alcohol consumers were male subjects. Blood pressure was correlated with age, smoking and body fat, (P < 0.01). Waist to trochanter ratio, and percentage body fat were significantly related to plasma total cholesterol level (P < 0.01).

Relationship between body mass index (BMI) and changes in plasma total and HDL-cholesterol levels during treatment of hypertension in African patients.

Eighty-one adult Nigerians with essential hypertension were randomly allocated to receive doxazosin, hydrochlorothiazide/amloride, or amlodipine. In each group, the patients were further classified as obese and non-obese, and total cholesterol as well as high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was determined before and after the 3-month treatment period. The total cholesterol level was significantly reduced in the non-obese patients, but did not show any significant change in the obese patients after doxazosin therapy, indicating the beneficial effects of doxazosin therapy in non-obese patients. The levels of total cholesterol increased and HDL cholesterol decreased in both the obese and the non-obese patients after hydrochlorothiazide/amloride therapy. Amlodipine treatment did not cause any significant change in the total and HDL cholesterol levels in both the obese and non-obese patients. These findings are worthy of consideration by clinicians and researchers when selecting the most appropriate drug for antihypertensive pharmacotherapy.