Abstract

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