Blood Glucose Levels and Lipid Profile in Hypertensive Patients at University College Hospital Ibadan, South West Nigeria

Hypertension frequently co-exists with metabolic disturbances, including hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia, collectively increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. This study evaluated fasting blood glucose levels and lipid profile parameters in hypertensive patients attending the cardiology outpatient clinic of University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A case-control study was conducted among 150 hypertensive patients and 75 normotensive controls matched for age and sex. Fasting venous blood was collected for determination of plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol using standard enzymatic colorimetric methods. Blood pressure readings were retrieved from clinical records. Hypertensive patients had significantly higher mean fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol compared to controls. Low HDL-cholesterol was found in 58.7% of hypertensive subjects. Impaired fasting glucose was detected in 26.7% of hypertensives, with 12.0% meeting diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes. Male hypertensive patients demonstrated worse lipid profiles than females. Duration of hypertension and body mass index showed significant positive correlations with metabolic abnormalities. The study recommends integration of routine blood glucose and lipid profile testing into hypertension management protocols at all levels of care in South West Nigeria to facilitate early detection and management of comorbid metabolic disorders. Keywords: hypertension, blood glucose, lipid profile, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular risk