Hypertension medications. Image credit: Medical Dialogues
Angela Onwuzoo
Amid high hypertension prevalence in Nigeria and skyrocketing drug prices, medical experts are worried over the alarming number of Nigerians living with the killer disease who are not receiving treatment despite being aware of its associated life-threatening complications and non-communicable disease risk when not controlled or properly managed.
The physicians disclosed that half of over 35 per cent of the adult population in Nigeria with hypertension are not on treatment, stating that they are seeing more and more hypertension-related complications because patients are not able to buy their medications.
Hypertension (high blood pressure), the World Health Organisation says, is when the pressure in an individual’s blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher).
WHO
It adds that hypertension is common but can be serious if not treated while identifying older age, genetics, being overweight or obese, not being physically active, high-salt diet, and drinking too much alcohol as some of the risk factors.
Among other complications, WHO states that hypertension can cause heart attack, heart failure, sudden death, stroke, kidney damage, and kidney failure.
Experts say although hypertension is not curable, it is, however, controllable with both lifestyle modifications and medications.
An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 worldwide have hypertension, with the majority (two-thirds) residing in low- and middle-income countries, according to the WHO.
Data from the Nigerian Hypertension Society suggests a prevalence of about 38 to 42 per cent in the adult population in Nigeria, which it describes as very high.
Although most people with hypertension do not feel any symptoms, doctors say very high blood pressure can cause headaches, blurred vision, chest pain, and other symptoms.
They noted that regular blood pressure check remains the best way to find out if one has hypertension or not.
Hypertension check. Image credit: Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The physicians, who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, further said that they are also worried that many Nigerians living with hypertension are unaware, warning that if hypertension is not treated, it can cause other health conditions like kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.
According to them, hypertension is divided into two types; primary or essential hypertension and secondary hypertension, based on its causative factors.
A Consultant Nephrologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr Babawale Bello, told our correspondent that the economic hardship in the country had compounded the burden of hypertension and its associated complications in the country.
The Associate Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, stated that due to the high cost of drugs, a lot of Nigerians with hypertension are no longer on medication, adding that even those on medications are not so regular as a result of cost.
The nephrologist, however, said that they (physicians) are particularly worried that many Nigerians with the condition that is known to be a silent killer are not even aware that they have it.
He disclosed that it is very dangerous for someone with high blood pressure not to be aware of it, warning that it could lead to sudden death.
Bello noted, “We are worried that half of Nigerians with hypertension don’t know they have it. Of those who know, only half are taking treatment and of those who are taking treatment, only half are controlled.
“For us as a people, it is even worse now because of the rising cost of care. So, discuss with your doctor if you have challenges buying the medicine he has prescribed. There are always cheaper alternatives he can prescribe.”
He said though data on the number of Nigerians living with hypertension differs, evidence suggests that statistics are alarming.
“There is evidence to suggest that the proportion varies from region to region, and urban compared to rural areas. But on the average, the population of Nigerians living with hypertension will be between 20 per cent to 30 per cent in rural areas, and then closer to 35 per cent in urban areas”, he said.
He advised those with hypertension to exercise regularly and consume healthy diets, affirming that many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure to a healthy range by making lifestyle changes.
President of the Nigerian Hypertension Society, Professor Ayodele Omotoso
Professor Ayodele Omotoso
, said primary hypertension constitutes about 90 to 95 per cent of all cases of hypertension, and the remaining five per cent is called secondary hypertension.
He noted that the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria and globally has increased, while the rate of increase is highest in low-middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa such that the prevalence is about 38 to 42 per cent in the adult population in Nigeria
The don said the costs of drugs have gone up, lamenting that some patients can no longer afford their medications.
Omotoso, who is a Physician Cardiologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, affirmed that the costs of different medications have gone up and that within the past 12 months, you can talk of as high as a 200 to 300 per cent increase.
He added, “I interacted with a patient recently who asked that his medications be changed, not because the medications were not working, but because he could no longer afford the medications. He started with about N2,500 per month, and about two weeks ago, that same medication was going for N22,000.
“You can then imagine someone who is on a minimum wage of N30,000, and you are asking him to take one of the many medications that they will be on for N22,000; the patient will not take the medication.”
The physician expressed worry that Nigerians living with hypertension might resort to concoctions as a result of the high cost of drugs.
“That will force patients to start looking for alternatives that they think are cheaper, which are native concoctions, and all forms of herbal tea, and if all those are not proven to be efficacious, they may lead to complications.
“One of the unfortunate dangers is that we will be seeing more and more of the complications of hypertension because the patients are not able to buy the medications”, he added.
He advised Nigerians to embrace regular health screening while appealing to those diagnosed with the condition not to ignore their medications.
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