ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR MARKERS AND RISK-FACTORS AMONG NEWLY DIAGNOSED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN BENIN CITY

Hypertension represents a major cardiovascular risk factor and quite often co-exists with dyslipidemia, further increasing the cardiovascular risk. The present study was done with the aim of studying some cardiovascular markers and risk factors in newly diagnosed hypertensive subjects in Benin City. In this present study, a total of 104 participants comprising 52 hypertensive patients and 52 normotensive controls aged between 20 and 80 years were enrolled. Lipid profile, for the following components, namely TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG, was assayed using standard analytic procedures. Demographic data and anthropometric measures were collected. This analysis indicated that most of the parameters of the lipid profile were significantly associated with the risk factors of CVDs. Hypertensive subjects revealed significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values when compared with normotensive subjects (P<0.001). Comparing hypertensive patients with controls revealed a statistically significant increase in the mean±SEM values of TC and LDL-C to 240.35±8.11 and 166.98±7.50, respectively, with P<0.001. Besides, TG was significantly elevated; its value was 112.15±6.96, with P=0.018, while HDL-C failed to show any statistical difference in its values, with 46.38±2.53 in this series, with P=0.365. AIP, CRR, and AC were higher with P<0.001. This study has estimated the prevalence of dyslipidemia and a high atherogenic index among hypertensive patients. Results thus provide support for lipid profile monitoring in hypertensive subjects for reduction in cardiovascular events. Earlier detection and timely treatment of dyslipidemia might definitely render better health to these patients.