CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR PROFILES IN MILD-TO-MODERATE HYPERTENSIVESSEEN AT KENYATTA-NATIONAL-HOSPITAL

SixtY newly diagnosed adult patients with mild to moderate essential h ypertension were assessed to determine their cardiovascular risk facto r profiles. Detailed history and physical examinations were done. Rest ing 12-lead ECG was done and serum levels of uric acid, fasting choles terol, and fasting glucose were determined. Twenty nine patients had h ypertension and two or more cardiovascular risk factors. The most prev alent cardiovascular risk factors other than hypertension were electro -cardiovascular left ventricular hypertrophy (31.7%), obesity (28.3%) and hypercholesterolaemia (28.3%). About a half of these patients (48. 3%) can be classified as high risk hypertensives. This calls for aggre ssive management of cardiovascular risk factors as a whole and not jus t hypertension alone if we are to reduce incidence of hypertensive com plications.