Risk Factors for Hypertension among Adult Patients Attending the General Outpatient Clinics of a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, South-South Nigeria.

Background: Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the risk factors for Hypertension among adults attending the general outpatient clinic of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of three hundred and eightyfive (385) adults (18 years and above) attending the General Outpatient Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria, was carried out between March and June, 2013. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, presence or absence of hypertension, symptom counts, duration of illness as well as risk factors for hypertension were sought.

Results: The study 385 subjects consisted of 166 males and 219 females (male: female = 1:1.3). The mean age of respondents was 37.7± 14.4 years. After multivariate analysis, age, family history of hypertension and obesity were identified as independent risk factors for hypertension in this study.

Conclusion: There is need for public enlightenment on the essence of routine screening of family members of hypertensive patients, avoidance of obesity and reduction of salt intake in our meals.