Medical Comorbidities and Physical Disability among Hypertensive Patients from a Teaching Hospital Clinic in Enugu, South East Nigeria

Ezeala-Adikaibe, BA and Aneke, E and Mbadiwe, N and Orjioke, C. and Okudo, G and Okafor, UH and Nwosu, N and Nwobodo, N and Nwobodo, M and Nnaji, T and Okpara, T and Chime, P and Okwara, CC and Ezeme, M. S. and Abonyi, MC and Ekochin, F and Eze, G (2017) Medical Comorbidities and Physical Disability among Hypertensive Patients from a Teaching Hospital Clinic in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 7 (3). pp. 22-27.

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Abstract

Introduction: Physical disability in hypertension may be due to medical comorbidities and the complications of hypertension. It may pose limitations in blood pressure control in Sub Saharan Africa because of added cost of treatment. Little is known about the pattern of medical comorbidities and disability among hypertensive patients in south East Nigeria. Methods: This was study cross sectional and descriptive study conducted in the medical outpatient clinic of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria. Data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire. Level of Physical disability was estimated using the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living score. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 436 subjects were surveyed. Males and females were 161 (36.9%) and 275 (63.1%) respectively with a male to female ratio was 1:1.7. Most patients 379 (86.9%) had at least one comorbidity with most of them having two (30.3%). A total of 234 (53.7%) areas of dependency were reported in 69 (15.8%) individuals with an average of 3.4 per individual. The most frequent areas of disability among the 69 were mobility: stair climbing (66.7%), ambulation (58%) and transfers (27.5%). Severe disability was significantly more common in males and increased with age. In bivariate correlation analysis, age, history of stroke, use of herbal drugs positively correlated with the level of disability. BMI negatively correlated with level of dependence. Conclusions: Patients with hypertension have high rates of disability and comorbidities especially in the elderly. Measures targeted towards improving adherence and treatment of comorbidities should be developed for these centers

Item Type: Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Medicine
Depositing User: mrs chioma hannah
Date Deposited: 04 Jul 2025 10:11
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2025 10:11
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/4958

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