Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy by five criteria among civil servants in Benin City, Nigeria: prevalence and correlates

Although increasing hypertension rates have been reported in several Africa n populations, little is known about the frequency of resulting hypertensiv e complications in these populations. We recorded the electrocardiograms of 482 male and 284 female civil servants in Benin City, Nigeria. Five differ ent criteria were used to detect the presence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. Associations between electrocardiographic left ven tricular hypertrophy and demographic, anthropometric and blood pressure cha racteristics were assessed. The prevalence of electrocardiographic left ven tricular hypertrophy ranged from 3 to 29% in the total population, dependin g on the criteria used, with four of the five criteria resulting in prevale nce estimates of less than 10%. The prevalence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly greater among those with hyperte nsion (19% of the total population), ranging from 11 to 49%. The prevalence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy increased with blood pressure level in both normotensives and hypertensives. Among hypertensives with systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 180 mmHg or diastoli c blood pressure greater than or equal to 110 mmHg, the prevalence exceeded 50% by four of the five criteria. We conclude that left ventricular hypert rophy may be affecting many hypertensives in this Nigerian population, pote ntially resulting in a substantial future burden of cardiovascular disease and death. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.