Lifestyle Management and the Economic Burden of Hypertension among Patients Attending Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria

Abstract

The study highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications in the management of hypertension among the people in Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja, Nigeria as hypertension accounts for 11% of the total burden of disease. This aim was to determine the lifestyle factors associated with this burden, specifically treatment status, complications and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The cross-sectional study measured lifestyle change in 384 patients with hypertension between June and December 2024 using the WHO STEPS instrument which examines diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, and BMI. The mean age of the participants was 58.3 years, and 56% of them were female. The results showed a shocking low level of hypertension control at 67.4%. Importantly, the factors that were strongest predictors of poor control were higher salt intake (odds ratio of 2.8), physical inactivity (odds ratio of 2.3) and obesity (odds ratio of 3.1). Besides that, 42% of the participants experienced hypertension-related complications such as stroke (18%), chronic kidney disease (CKD, 15%), and heart failure (HF, 12%). For every increase in lifestyle risk factor, the risk of complications rose by 28% (p<0.001), the analysis showed. Interestingly, the patients lost an average of 3.2 years in QALYs, showing how severely affected they were. The results of this study indicate a contribution of modifiable lifestyle factors to 68% of the hospital burden of hypertension. Interventions addressing salt reduction, physical exercise and obesity management are emphasized as the most effective interventions for patient outcomes.