In a startling revelation, the Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) announced on Monday that the South-East geopolitical zone carries the highest burden of hypertension in the country. This disclosure was made by Prof Ayodele Omotoso, the President of NHS, during the 23rd Annual General Meeting and scientific conference of the association held in Abuja.
Prof Omotoso, who is also a professor of Medicine at the University of Ilorin and a Consultant Cardiologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, emphasized the urgent need to address the enormous burden of hypertension in Nigeria. He highlighted that nationally, the prevalence of hypertension is around 30-40 per cent. However, the distribution varies across geopolitical zones, with the South-East recording about 44 per cent, the North-East at 42 per cent, and other areas ranging from 25-30 per cent.
Translating these percentages into actual figures, Prof Omotoso expressed concern about the millions of Nigerians affected by hypertension. He stated, “If you look at the cost of this disease, not only the cost of treatment, but the cost in terms of days lost to ill health, and complications due to kidney failure, stroke, heart failure, and others, they have economic implications on the country.”
Prof. Solomon Kadiri, a member of the Africa Regional Advisory Group of the International Society of Hypertension and a keynote speaker at the conference, emphasized the burden of hypertension over the past few decades. He highlighted risk factors such as excessive salt intake, obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption.
Kadiri stressed the importance of awareness, urging Nigerians to have their blood pressure checked regularly. He recommended that adults, especially those diagnosed with hypertension, should be informed about lifestyle changes, including reducing salt intake, losing weight, and engaging in physical activity. The conference emphasized the critical need for urgent attention and preventive measures to tackle the growing issue of hypertension in Nigeria.
