Abstract

1Obimba, Kelechukwu Clarence, 2Ozougwu, Jevas Chibuike, 3 Ihedimbu, Chiamaka Perpetua and 4Nwakamma, Gerald

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of some clinical indices as diagnostic parameters of hypertension. Twenty (20) healthy, normotensive human subjects and twenty (20) hypertensive patients were subjected to diastolic (D) and systolic (S) blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), serum creatinine (C), serum magnesium (Mg2+), serum sodium (Na+ ), serum total cholesterol (Ch), serum triglyceride (T), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) analyses. The experimental design is a single factor completely randomized design (CRD). Results recorded of the healthy human subjects and hypertensive patients, expressed as mean ± standard error (S.E) (unit) were as follows : (D) 75.6±1.7 and 98.11±0.9 (mmHg), (S) 120.52 ± 9.14 and 156.87 ± 11.23 (mmHg), (BMI) 15.3±0.7 and 27.01±1.7(kg/m2 ), (C)1.2 ± 0.1and 1.8 ± 0.2 (mg/dl), (Mg2+) 2.4 ± 0.1 and 1.11±0.63 (mm/L), (Na+ )138 ± 1.16 and 149± 0.23, (Ch) 175±1.2 and 225±8.1(mg/dl), (T) 76±1.3 and 125±2.1(mg/dl), (AST) 12.18 ± 1.16 and 22.5 ± 2.16 (U/l), (FBS) 82.18 ± 9.16 and 98.87± 14.23 (mg/dl). The mean values of D, S, BMI, Na+ , Ch, T, AST and FBS were significantly higher (p<0.05) : but those of Mg2+ were significantly lower (p<0.01) in hypertensive patients compared with healthy human subjects. Incidence of hypertension correlated positively and significantly (p<0.05) with significant increase (p<0.05) in S, D, BMI, FBS, AST, Ch, T, and Na+ ; and significant decrease (p<0.01) in Mg2+ . The statistical regression and correlation between serum total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure of hypertensive patients were significant (p<0.05), r = 0.975. Observed values of systolic blood pressure could be used with high precision to predict serum total cholesterol levels of hypertensive patients.