Blood pressure control in treated hypertensive Nigerians in South-South Nigeria: Experience from Benin City

Background: Systemic hypertension is the most common noncommunicable disease in Nigeria with a plethora of associated clinical conditions and target organ damage. Adequate blood pressure (Bp) reduction with antihypertensive medication is expected to reduce mortality and morbidity. However, although Bp is easy to measure and hypertension responds well to therapy, a significant number of hypertensive patients on medication are not well controlled and hence remain at risk for the complications of hypertension, since a significant number of patients do not reach the goal Bp of ≤140/90 mmHg. Methods: Case notes of 826 hypertensive patients seen over the past 5 years, who have had a minimum period of treatment of 6 months at the Medical Outpatient Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, were retrospectively evaluated. All had antihypertensive medication prescribed and subjectively reported compliance with medications. Adequate Bp control was defined as a systolic Bp of