ORIGINAL: A Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Hypertension and Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Oil-and Gas-Polluted Communities in the Niger Delta Region

West Afr J Med. March 2025; 42 (3): 190-201 PMID: 40845012

Authors

  • A. C. Mankwe Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
  • T. C. Ugwu Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
  • J. S. Aprioku Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
  • A. W. Obianime Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Electrocardiography, Hypertension, Left ventricular hypertrophy, Oil/Gas exploration

Abstract

Background: Hypertension with its associated sequelae is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The multifactorial associations of environmental influence on blood pressure seem to play a key role in the etiopathogenesis of hypertension and should be more intently investigated.

Objective: This study evaluated the prevalence of hypertension and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy of residents in three oil producing (exposed) communities in Rivers State (Mbodo-Aluu, K-Dere and Engeni) and a non-oil producing (control) community in Anambra State (Mgbeke-Uli).

Methods: A total of 570 subjects were recruited for this study. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, electrocardiographic parameters, and blood pressure were obtained from the subjects in a standardized manner.

Results: Showed that the mean value of the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of subjects in the exposed communities were higher (p<0.001) than those of the controls. Furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy in exposed communities were higher (p<0.001) when compared with the control.

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Published

2025-03-31

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 3 (2025): The West African Journal of Medicine

Section

Articles