Blood pressure pattern in urban Edos.

This study was part of a Hypertension Detection Programme carried out in Benin City in 1983. A sample of 1450 Edos aged 15-70 years (mean 31.8 years) had their blood pressures (BPs) recorded while sitting inside a bus; an automatic sphygmomanometer with cuff size 14 x 52 cm was used. Of these, 219 subjects (15.1%) had borderline hypertension while 168 (11.6%) were hypertensive (BP > or = 160/95 mmHg). There were more hypertensives among the 440 men aged 35-54 years compared with all other groups combined (P < 0.001). The highest age-specific prevalence (2.0%) was recorded in men aged 45-49 years. Mean BP rose with age until 39 years, after which there was a drop; thereafter the rise was noticed between 45 and 69 years. This study has highlighted a high prevalence of hypertension in the study population. Middle-aged men were found to be particularly vulnerable. There is need for mass enlightenment programmes about the hazards of hypertension especially in developing nations.