Relationship between hypertension and diabetes risk among young adults in some communities in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between blood pressure indices and diabetes risk among rural, urban, and reference populations in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among young adults in rural (Etche) and urban (Port Harcourt) communities, along with a reference population of diagnosed diabetics from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Choba. Demographic data, blood pressure indices including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse rate (PR) were recorded. Diabetes risk was assessed using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) and the American Diabetes Association Risk Tool (ADART). Data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-tests and Pearson correlations. Rural participants showed the highest mean SBP (125.0±1.1 mmHg), PP (45.4±0.7 mmHg), and MAP, while the reference diabetic group had the highest mean DBP (80.7±1.3 mmHg) and PR (87±1.9 bpm). Urban participants revealed the lowest blood pressure indices and the highest proportion of normotension (66.1%). Males consistently had higher SBP and PP, while females had higher PR. Hypertension prevalence was highest in the rural group (22.9%). Both FINDRISC and ADART scores correlated positively with most blood pressure indices, with ADART showing stronger associations, particularly between SBP and diabetic risk in rural (r = 0.321) and reference (r = 0.390) groups. This study highlights that targeted interventions emphasizing hypertension screening in rural areas, preventive measures in younger urban populations and integrated cardiovascular care in diabetic patients are essential to reducing the dual burden of hypertension and diabetes in resource-limited settings.