Blood Pressure and Haematological Indices in Twelve Communities in Ashanti, Ghana.

Jacob Plange-Rhule,John B Eastwood,Sampson Antwi,Sally M Kerry,Francesco P Cappuccio,Frank B Micah

doi:10.1155/2018/5952021

Abstract

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. In western populations, high haemoglobin levels are associated with raised BP unlike in Sub-Saharan Africa where there is a paucity of data. Our study examines the association between haematological indices with BP variables. Weight, height, BP, and whole blood indices of viscosity (Hb, haematocrit, RBC count, and MCV) were measured in 921 adults (340 men, 581 women; aged 40–75) in 12 communities in Ghana. Mean values for Hb (12.3 g/dl ± 1.7 SD), haematocrit (36.7% ± 5.2), RBC (4.10 million/μL ± 0.64), and MCV were lower than reference values used in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mean BMI was 21.1 ± 4.1 indicating a lean population. Systolic BP increased by 1.0 mmHg (95% CI 0.5–1.5), p < 0.001, for women and 0.5 (0.1–1.0), p = 0.027, for men per unit increase in haematocrit. Similar relationships were found for Hb and RBC but not for MCV or platelets. The relationships were weaker when adjusted for BMI, 0.7 mmHg (0.2–1.2) in women and 0.5 (0.0–1.0) in men. Findings for diastolic BP were similar. Overall haematological indices were low. We have found a significant, positive relationship between BP, Hb, Haematocrit, and RBC count in our population.

Highlights

Cardiovascular disease has become an important cause of premature death and disability in Sub-Saharan Africa [1, 2]
Plasma and whole blood viscosity have been suggested as important determinants of arterial blood pressure [4,5,6,7,8,9] both in normotensive individuals and in those with untreated hypertension
It is possible that whole blood viscosity plays a part in the genesis of stroke and coronary artery disease [11,12,13,14,15] and cardiac hypertrophy [16]

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease has become an important cause of premature death and disability in Sub-Saharan Africa [1, 2]. Hypertension is known to be the major contributor [3] and is itself a consequence of increasing urbanisation and an increasingly western lifestyle, exemplified by increasing obesity, higher salt intake, and a sedentary lifestyle. Another contributory factor to hypertension may be blood viscosity. Plasma and whole blood viscosity have been suggested as important determinants of arterial blood pressure [4,5,6,7,8,9] both in normotensive individuals and in those with untreated hypertension. Others have not found a correlation between blood pressure and blood viscosity in normotensives [18, 19]

Methods

Results

Conclusion