Assessment Of Nutritional Status Of Hypertensive Patients In Anambra State Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

 The study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of hypertensive patients in Government hospitals and Mission hospitals in Anambra state of Nigeria. Anthropometric measurement and dietary assessment were the indices used. Only men of 3 0-80 years of age were used for the study. The subjects were selected from six hospitals in Anambra (in patients) from both Government and Mission hospitals. The subjects used for the study as per Government and Mission hospitals were 154 and 166 men given a total of 320 men for the study. The weight of patients in Government hospitals were 72.0 ± 5.9 kg and Mission hospitals were 73.3 ± 6.6kg. The patients in government hospitals had Body mass index (BMI) values of 24.4 ± 22kg better than patients in mission hospital with 26.04 ± 3.6kg. Percentage body fat was 20.7 ± 1.1% for government hospitals and 24.8 ± 2.2% for mission hospitals. There levels were high but Mission hospitals were higher then Government hospitals. The food intakes for the patients in Government hospitals were; energy intake (Kcal) (2478.7 ± 122.8kcal), protein (42.9 ± 13.4g), fats (102 ± 69.8g), carbohydrate (224.2 ± 85.6g), fibre, (42.5 ± 20.lg), sodium (23.7 ± 14.9mg), calcium (233.7 ± 140.2mg) and potassium were (75.3 ± 39.7mg) while in Mission hospital the following food intake were obtained; energy intake (2182 ± 324.5kcal), protein (46.6 ± 8.8g), fat (70.2 ± 34.lg), carbohydrate (261.5 ± 131.3g), fibre (39.8 ± 18.4g), sodium (37.4 ± 21.2mg), calcium (142.8 ± 80.1mg) and potassium were (23.6 ± 13.1mg) respectively. The energy intakes of patients in government and mission hospital were normal considering their percentage body fat and Body mass index but other fibre intake, calcium and potassium were low correlated to high blood pressure. Their total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and total glycerides were high in both hospitals and this may have contributed to the elevated blood pressure of patients in govermnent and mission hospitals.