Abstract
Prehypertension is a borderline blood pressure status associated with both higher incidence of cardiovascular disease as well as higher risk of progression to hypertension. The rising burden of hypertension and prehyperension globally is a serious concern to all and sundry. This study aims to estimate the burden of prehypertension in Nigeria. Online searches of Google Scholar, PubMed and African Index Medicus were conducted and studies selected based on predefined criteria. 21 studies consisting of 25839 individuals conducted between 2011 and 2021 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of prehypertension in Nigeria was found to be 34%(95% CI: 30%-40%) translating to 41.4 million adult Nigerians. Males have higher prehypertension prevalence of 39.1% (95% CI: 30.9%-47.6%) than females with prevalence of 28.5% (95% CI: 21.2%-36.4%). Differences between sexes are not statistically significant. The region with the lowest prehypertension prevalence is North-East at 18%. The region with the highest prevalence of prehypertension is North-West at 43%. Differences between the regions are statistically significant. The pooled prevalence in rural settlements is 32% whereas the pooled prevalence for urban settlements is 37%. Differences rural and urban settlements were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the burden of prehypertension in Nigeria is high and represents a future burden of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
Highlights
Blood pressure that is abnormally high is known as hypertension
From a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 115 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 75 mmHg, the risk of cardiovascular disease grows in a log-linear pattern, with the risk of cardiovascularrelated death doubling every 20 mmHg and 10 mmHg increase in SBP and DBP, respectively [1]
This study's pooled estimate of prehypertension prevalence in Nigeria, 34%, is close to but more precise than a recent meta-analysis in the country, which reported a prevalence of 30.9% [6]
Summary
Blood pressure that is abnormally high is known as hypertension. From a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 115 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 75 mmHg, the risk of cardiovascular disease grows in a log-linear pattern, with the risk of cardiovascularrelated death doubling every 20 mmHg and 10 mmHg increase in SBP and DBP, respectively [1]. Despite the constant risk of rising blood pressure, identifying a cut-off number is critical for clinical and public health interventions to establish a threshold of action [2]. Prehypertension is related with a 200 percent increase in cardiovascular disease incidence compared to blood pressure less than 120/80mmHg, in addition to the high chance of conversion to hypertension [2]. Prehypertension was shown to be 38 percent common in a meta-analysis of 242 322 people from 11 countries, including Nigeria [5]. The prevalence of prehypertension was determined to be 30.9 percent in a recent meta-analysis of 9 studies completed in Nigeria between 1995 and 2020, involving 16, 241 people (95 percent CI: 22.0-39.7). Prehypertension is a low blood pressure state associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and the development of hypertension. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertension in Nigeria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
