Abstract

ASSESMENT OF PLASMA RANDOM BLOOD GLUCOSE AND GLYCATED HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS IN SOME HOSPITALS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Ogbozor C.C., Ogbodo E.C.*, Ogbu I.S.I., Ukibe N.R, Ezeugwunne I.P., Amah A.K., Analike R.A., Oguaka V.N., Onyegbule O.A.

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is an important and major global public health problem.This study is designed to assess plasma random blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels in hypertensive (non-diabetic) subjects in some hospitals in Anambra state, Nigeria. A total of 80 subjects were recruited (40 non-diabetic hypertensive and 40 normotensive non-diabetic who served as the control group). Blood samples were collected from the non-diabetic hypertensive subjects as well as the control group. Plasma random blood glucose levels were estimated by the Glucose Oxidase Method while glycated hemoglobin levels were determined using spectrophotometric method. The mean glycated haemoglobin (Hb/Ac) and plasma random blood glucose (RBG) levels in non-diabetic hypertensive subjects were significantly higher when compared to control group (p=0.000). The correlation of plasma RBG levels and Hb1Ac to diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in non-diabetic hypertensive subjects were not significantly different when observed among the group (p>0.05). However, a positive weak correlation was observed in the mean Hb1Ac (r=0.045) of the non –diabetic hypertensive. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the correlation of plasma RBG levels and Hb1Ac to systolic blood pressure (SBP) in non-diabetic hypertensive subjects (p>0.05). Interestingly, the mean plasma RBG and Hb1Ac levels did not differ significantly when compared among different age groups in non-diabetic hypertensive subjects (p>0.05). Moreover, the mean plasma RBG levels and Hb1Ac in non-diabetic hypertensive subjects taking antihypertensive medication and those not taking medication were not significantly (p>0.05) different when compared among the groups (p>0.05). Therefore, it was observed that non-diabetic hypertensive subjects are at risk of developing diabetes as their diastolic blood pressure increases in the near future.

Keywords: Hypertension, Diabetes, non-diabetic hypertensives, Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure, Age, Glycated haemoglobin (Hb/Ac), Random blood glucose (RBG).