Adverse cardiovascular outcomes are linked to higher burden of obesity and hypertension. We conducted a secondary analysis of data for 5135 participants aged ≥ 16 years from our community-based hypertension prevalence study to determine the prevalence of obesity and association between multiple anthropometric indices and blood pressure (BP). The indices were waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), a body shape index(ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI), body roundness index (BRI), visceral adiposity index (VAI) and conicity index (CI). We performed statistical analyses to determine the association, predictive ability, cutoff values and independent determinants of hypertension. Crude prevalence of obesity was 136 per 1000 (95% confidence interval 126–146). BMI had the strongest correlation with systolic and diastolic BP (rs = 0.260 and 0.264, respectively). Indices of central adiposity (AVI, WC, WHtR, BRI) were the strongest predictors of hypertension (≥ 140/90 mmHg), and their cut-off values were generally higher in females than males. WHR, age, BMI and CI were independent determinants of hypertension ≥ 140 mmHg (p < 0.05). We conclude that, based on this novel study, measures of central adiposity are the strongest predictors and independent determinants of hypertension in our population, and cut-off values vary from previously recommended standards.

Background Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and prevalence rates are critical to understanding the burden and envisaging health service requirements and resource allocation. We aimed to provide an update of the current prevalence of hypertension and blood pressure profiles of adults in urban Nigeria. Methods Cross sectional population-based survey in Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were selected using stratified multistage sampling. Relevant sections of the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance were utilized for data collection. Blood pressures were categorized based on both the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2017 guidelines and the pre-existing Joint National Committee on Hypertension 7 (JNC7) (2003) categories. Results There were 5365 participants (51.8% female), age range of 16–92 years, and mean age ± SD 37.6 ± 13.1. The mean ± SD systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 126.8 ± 18.6 and 80.6 ± 13.2 respectively. There was significant correlation between both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and age (Pearson correlation 0.372 and 0.357 respectively and p = 0.000 in both instances). The prevalence of hypertension was 55.0% (3003) and 27.5% (1473) based on the ACC/AHA 2017 guideline and the JNC7 2003 guidelines respectively. Body mass index was positively correlated with systolic and diastolic BP (p = 0.000). Conclusions Over half of the adult population in this major Nigerian city are classified to have hypertension by the recent guideline. There is an urgent need to develop and implement strategies for primordial prevention of hypertension (and obesity) and to restructure our healthcare delivery systems to adequately cater for the current and emerging hypertensive population.

IntroductionThe impact of Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in worsening outcomes is profound, especially in the presence of comorbid conditions. This study aimed to describe the proportion of patients at a high risk of OSA in our practice setting.MethodsThe STOP BANG questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness scale were used to assess for OSA risk and excessive daytime sleepiness respectively. Hospitalized patients and out-patients were recruited. Intergroup differences in continuous variables were compared using the analysis of variance. The proportion of patients with high risk of OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness was presented as frequencies and group differences compared with the Pearson χ2 test. Independent risk predictors for OSA were assessed in multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 1100 patients (53.4% females) participated in the study. Three hundred and ninety nine (36.3%) had a high risk of OSA, and 268 (24.4%) had excessive daytime sleepiness. Of the participants with high OSA risk, 138 (34.6%) had excessive daytime sleepiness compared to 130 (18.5%) of those with low OSA risk (p).ConclusionA significant proportion of patients attending our tertiary care center are at high risk of OSA.

PurposeComorbidities have been indicated to influence cancer care and outcome, with strong associations between the presence of comorbidities and patient survival. The objective of this study is to determine the magnitude and pattern of comorbidities in Nigerian cancer populations, and demonstrate the use of comorbidity indices in predicting mortality/survival rates of cancer patients.MethodsUsing a retrospective study design, data were extracted from hospital reports of patients presenting for oncology care between January 2015 and December 2016 at two tertiary health facilities in Lagos, Nigeria. Patient comorbidities were ranked and weighted using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI).ResultsThe mean age for the 848 cancer patients identified was 53.9 ± 13.6 years, with 657 (77.5%) females and 191 (22.5%) males. Breast (50.1%), cervical (11.1%) and colorectal (6.3%) cancers occurred most frequently. Comorbidities were present in 228 (26.9%) patients, with the most common being hypertension (20.4%), diabetes (6.7%) and peptic ulcer disease (2.1%). Hypertension-augmented CCI scores were 0 (15.6%), 1–3 (62.1%), 4–6 (21.7%) and ≥7 (0.6%). The mean CCI scores of patients ≤50 years (0.8 ± 0.9) and ≥51 years (3.3 ± 1.2) were significantly different (p < 0.05). Patients with lower mean CCI scores were more likely to receive chemotherapy (2.2 ± 1.6 versus 2.5 ± 1.9; p < 0.05) and/or surgery (2.1 ± 1.5 versus 2.4 ± 1.7; p < 0.05).ConclusionComorbidities occur significantly in Nigerian cancer patients and influence the prognosis, treatment outcome and survival rates of these patients. There is a need to routinely evaluate cancer patients for comorbidities with the aim of instituting appropriate multidisciplinary management measures where necessary.

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to climb in many parts of the globe in association with the rise in Obesity.In parallel to the increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, evidence indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency Worldwide. Areas with high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency have been associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. The reported prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus ranges from 63.5% to 91.1%.Most studies on vitamin D status among Diabetes mellitus subjects involved Caucasians. Data on this subject matter is scarce in Africa. Materials and methods:This study was conducted between the months of May and August (Rainy/winter season) at the Diabetes clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Lagos, Nigeria. It was an analytical cross-sectional study. A total of 114 eligible type 2 diabetes mellitus participants and 60 healthy controls participated. All participants were clinically assessed and blood samples for relevant investigations taken. Serum vitamin D level was analyzed using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. Results:The mean age was 52 ± 7.6 years in the T2DM group and 50 ± 8.4 in the control group, (p = 0.9).The female to male ratio in both T2DM and healthy control subjects was 1.5:1.Majority of the study subjects had vitamin D deficiency with prevalence of 72 (63.2%) in T2DM subjects and 32 (53.3%) in the controls (p = NS). There was no significant difference in the distribution of Vitamin D3 deficiency status by age or sex in both T2DM and Control groups.The mean serum vitamin D level in T2DM subjects with vitamin D deficiency was 9.2 ± 1.1 ng/dl and 21.5 ± 0.7 ng/dl in the sufficient group (t = 11.9, p = 0.0001). The mean HbA1c and Fasting plasma glucose were higher in the vitamin D deficient group compared to the sufficient group (7.5 ± 1.9% and 148 ± 60.9 mg/dl vs. 6.8 ± 1.6% and 134 ± 43.5 mg/dl respectively, p NS). The proportion of subjects with good glycaemic control (HbA1C f 7.0%) was significantly higher in the vitamin D sufficient group 19 (73.1%) compared to the vitamin D deficient group, 33 (45.8%), Z = -2.39, p = 0.01). Conclusion:Vitamin D deficiency is common among the participants in this study. This alludes to the widespread vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in both apparently healthy populations and patients with various pathologies including diabetes mellitus. The season of study (rainy/winter) may have contributed to the low levels of vitamin D among the participants.

Persons with BMI above 25 kg/m² had lower BC level though not statistically significant, the trend was noticed. Subjecting people whose BMI is above 25 kg/m² to further stimulation with ACTH because of low BC is not advised because their response to ACTH stimulation was similar to those who have normal BMI.

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Introduction:Improvement of glycemic control reduces the risk of diabetic complications. Reports suggest that Vitamin D supplementation improves glycemia. However, there are no data on the influence of Vitamin D on diabetes mellitus (DM) in Nigeria.Objective:To determine the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in Type 2 DM (T2DM) participants with Vitamin D deficiency.Design:This was a single-blind, prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial, involving T2DM participants attending the Diabetes Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Forty-two T2DM participants with poor glycemic control and Vitamin D deficiency were selected following a prior cross-sectional study on 114 T2DM participants for the determination of Vitamin D status and glycemia. These participants were randomized into two equal groups of treatment and placebo arms.Intervention:Three thousand IU of Vitamin D3 were given to the participants in the treatment arm. Glycemic status was determined at baseline and after 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in serum Vitamin D level and fasting plasma glucose in the treatment arm compared to placebo. There was a nonsignificant reduction in the mean HbA1c level in the treatment group after 12 weeks of Vitamin D3 supplementation (Z = −1.139; P = 0.127) compared to the placebo group, which had a further increase in the mean HbA1c level (Z = −1.424; P = 0.08). The proportion of participants with poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 6.5%) who converted to good control after Vitamin D supplementation was significantly higher in the treatment arm compared to placebo (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Vitamin D3 supplementation in persons with T2DM and Vitamin D deficiency results in a significant improvement in glycemic control.