Prevalence of Hypertension among Clients Attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Hypertension is a common medical condition in surgical patients globally. There are myriad of predisposing factors for hypertension especially as it concerns obstetrics and gynaecology. these include family history, age of the patient unhealthy diet, harmful intake of alcohol, sedentary life style, obesity just to mention a few. Approximately 20% of global population lives with hypertension. To determine the prevalence of hypertension in obstetrics and gynaecology patients that had surgeries at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). This was a one year retrospective cross – sectional study in surgical patients at the RSUTH. Data was obtained from the patients' case notes. The information was analysed using SPSS version 25.Two hundred and fifty subjects were recruited for the study. The age range was 22 years to 64 years.. The mean age was 31 years. Two hundred (80%) were obstetrics surgeries while 50 (20%) were gynaecological surgeries. One hundred and eighty (72%) of the subjects had caesarean section making it the commonest surgical procedure; 35 (14%) had hypertensive diseases. Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia contributed to 25 (10%) of surgical patients with hypertension. The study revealed the prevalence of hypertension in obstetrics and gynaecologic patients who had surgery at the RSUTH as 14%. Majority of the surgical patients had eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. Multidisciplinary approach to the management of such patients involving the cardiologist and other specialties is the key for a favourable outcome.