ASSESSMENT OF PREVALENCE, AWARENESS AND RISK FACTORS OF HYPERTENSION AMONG ADULTS 30YEARS AND ABOVE ATTENDING GENERAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL,BORNO STATE

Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is the persistent rise in blood pressure above 140/90mmhg and it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality with its prevalence rising steadily with increase in age. It is a significant global health concern associated with severe cardiovascular complication and other complications such as chronic kidney disease, retinopathy. Hypertension is known as silent killer because it is mostly asymptomatic and patients most times prevent for the first time with its complications. The objectives of this study is to determine the prevalence, awareness and risk factors of hypertension among patients 30years and above attending GOPD UMTH. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study which was carried out using a pretested, interviewer administered questionnaire with a sample size of 420. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents at the GOPD Clinic for this study. Data was collated and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences-SPSS version 23.0. Data were presented using frequency tables. The results shows a prevalence of hypertension of respondents attending GOPD clinic to be 34 per cent in GOPD University of Maiduguri. 95 per cent of respondents were aware of what hypertension is and 67 per cent of hypertensive’s are of their condition. And also Respondents who consume excessive fatty diets, females, high salt consumers, and family history of hypertension, Diabetes, Cigarette smokers, alcohol consumers, physically inactive and older respondents were associated with more cases of hypertension. In conclusion the prevalence of hypertension among adults attending GOPD UMTH is 34 per cent while the awareness of hypertension among hypertensive patients is 67 per cent.