Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Prevalence and Association with High Blood Pressure in Isolo, Lagos, Nigeria

High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and kidney damage, while G6PD deficiency dramatically increases the risk of haemolytic anaemia, neonatal jaundice, and kernicterus due to oxidative stress. There is evidence of G6PD deficiency potentiating high blood pressure. This study investigated the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and the association between G6PD deficiency and high blood pressure/hypertension in the Isolo area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 208 participants, comprising 95 (45.67%) males and 113 (54.33%) females, were recruited from six locations for this study. Two millilitres of venous blood were collected and divided into two portions for G6PD enzyme assay and haematological parameters. G6PD enzyme level was determined using a quantitative spectrophotometric assay, while blood pressure levels were measured using an automated blood pressure monitor. The overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency was 16.83%. There was no significant difference in prevalence between males (21.1%) and females (13.3%), whereas a marginally higher G6PD activity in females (10.77 ± 0.46 vs. 12.08 ± 0.48) (P < 0.05) was recorded. Although slight differences in prevalence were obtained in the six locations sampled, the one-way analysis of variance of the G6PD activity levels showed no significant difference between any pairs (P = 0.05). Furthermore, the results obtained from this study showed no association between high blood pressure and G6PD deficiency (χ2 = 0.159, P = 0.6899). These data suggest that G6PD deficiency is common in Isolo, Lagos, and should be considered a serious concern. Keywords: Anemia, enzymopathy, glucose‑6‑phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, high blood pressure, hypertension