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Serum total
cholesterol in hypertensive Northern Nigerians
Akuyam S. A.1*, Aghogho U. B.1,
Aliyu I. S.1and Bakari A. G.2
1Department
of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching
Hospital,
Zaria, Nigeria.
2Department
of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital,
Zaria, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author.
E-mail:shehuakuyam@yahoo.com. Tel: 08032889572,
08023599243.
Accepted 23 February, 2009 |
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Hypertension is associated with several lipid abnormalities
including elevated total cholesterol (TC) concentrations.
The presence of dyslipidaemia increases risks of
cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There is paucity of
data on the pattern of serum TC in hypertensive patients in
northern Nigeria. The objective of the present study was
therefore to evaluate serum total cholesterol in
hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects in Zaria,
Northern Nigeria. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol
(TC) were measured in 100 hypertensive patients and fifty 50
normotensive. Body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP)
were also measured in both hypertensive patients and
normotensive subjects. The data obtained were analysed using
Microsoft Office Excel 2003. Two-tailed student’s t- test
for matched samples and Pearson’s linear correlation
analysis statistical methods were employed for the analyses.
A p-value of equal to or less than 0.05 (p ≤ 0.05) was
considered as statistically significant. The results of
serum TC in hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects
were 5.12 ± 0.12 and 4.50 ± 0.11 mmol/L, respectively (p <
0.05). Furthermore, there were positive and significant
correlations between serum TC and BP in both hypertensive
patients and normotensive subjects. Similarly, there were
positive and significant correlations between serum TC and
BMI in hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects.
These findings demonstrate that serum TC levels increase as
the BP and BMI rise in both hypertensive patients and
normotensive subjects. Hypertensive patients demonstrate
higher serum TC concentrations than their normotensive
counterparts, suggesting a high risk of developing
cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, such as
coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke among hypertensives.
We recommend routine evaluation and proper management of
serum TC in hypertensive patients.
Key words: Hypertensive
patients, serum total cholesterol, cardiovascular disease. |
