Concurrent Prediabetes and Prehypertension in a Rural Community in South East Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To determine the prevalence of concurrent prediabetes and prehypertension among apparently healthy adults in Ihuokpara, a rural community, South East Nigeria. Study Design: The study was cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Ihuokpara, Nkanu East Local Government Area Enugu State Nigeria, May 2013. Methodology: Eight hundred and twenty four (538 females and 286 males)consenting adult residents of Ihuokpara, a rural community in Enugu State of Nigeria, were recruited for the study through a cross-sectional, stratified, convenient sampling technique. A structured questionnaire assessed subject’s socio-demographic data, detailed anthropometric indices and blood pressure using standard protocols. Subject’s fasting plasma samples in addition to 2-hour post 75-gram-glucose-load plasma samples were assessed for glucose levels. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.1±16.2 years; females constituted 65.3% of the subjects and 46.3% of the study population had no formal education. Concurrent prediabetes and prehypertension was prevalent at 10.4% with no significant gender bias (P =.13). Older age, physical inactivity and impaired glucose tolerance were significant predictors of concurrent prediabetes and prehypertension (P =.007, .003 and .006 respectively) with older age and physical inactivity emerging as consistent significant predictors, after logistic regression models. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of concurrent prediabetes and prehypertension among adults in this rural Nigerian community.