Ethnic Variation in the Association of Hypertension With Type 2 Diabetes

Prevalence of hypertension and determinants of poor blood pressure control in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a Tertiary Clinic in Lagos, Nigeria

Objective

The objective is to determine the prevalence of comorbid hypertension and blood pressure (BP) control among patients with Type-2-diabetes-mellitus attending a tertiary-hospital in Lagos, and identify the determinants of poor BP control.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study of 238 consecutive patients with Type-2-diabetes Mellitus (DM) at the adult diabetes-clinic of a tertiary health-facility in Lagos, Nigeria over a 5-month period. Data were retrieved with the aid of structured-investigator-administered-questionnaire, physical examination, and review of hospital record. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥140/90 mmHg and target BP control was defined as <130/80 mmHg. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent determinants of poor BP control.

Results

Comorbid hypertension was present in 187 (78.6%) of study participants with males (68/87 [78.8%]) and females (119/151 [78.2%]) similarly affected, P = 0.907. Older age (62.9 ± 10.1 vs. 54.9 ± 9.6 years) and obesity (35.3% vs. 17.6%) were associated with comorbid hypertension, P < 0.05. Awareness, treatment, and medication adherence rates were 96.3%, 100%, and 46%, respectively. Only 17.1% (n = 32/187) had BP controlled to target. Waist circumference (WC) (adjusted odd ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.06) and poor glycemic control (adjusted odd ratio: 5.39, 95% CI: 2.07-13.99) were the predictors of poor BP control.

Conclusion

The prevalence of co-morbid hypertension in Type 2 DM patients in our setting is high and the BP control rate is low. Increasing WC and poor glycemic control are the independent determinants of poor BP control. Individualized weight reduction and glycemic control strategies may help achieve target BP control.

Ethnic Variation in the Association of Hypertension With Type 2 Diabetes

Lifestyle changes occurring with urbanization increase the prevalence of both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN). Yemenites who have immigrated to Israel have demonstrated a dramatic increase in T2DM but the prevalence of HTN in diabetic Yemenites is unclear. In a cross-sectional study, the authors evaluated the prevalence of HTN and lifestyle patterns in Israelis with T2DM of Yemenite (Y-DM) and non-Yemenite (NY-DM) origin. Y-DM (n=63) and NY-DM (n=120) had similar age (63±7 vs 64±7 years, P=.5), diabetes duration, diet adherence, and exercise patterns. Y-DM had a lower prevalence of HTN (63%) than NY-DM (83%) (P<.01). Furthermore, Yemenite origin was independently associated with lower prevalence of HTN (odds ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.71). Blood pressure was well controlled with fewer antihypertensive medications in Y-DM than NY-DM (P<.01). Even though lifestyle patterns were similar in the two groups, Y-DM had a lower prevalence of HTN compared with NY-DM and required fewer antihypertensive medications.