Experience with Common Anti-hypertensives Regarding Development of Impaired Glycaemia in a Specialised Primary Care Facility in Jos, Nigeria

Hypertension (HBP) and diabetes (DM) co-exist with worse outcomes. Various hypotheses explain this, one of which is the drug used to treat HBP. One therefore sought to see what drug (s) have this potential and under what conditions they manifest. This is to guide future practice, and reduce morbidity. Consequently, hypertensives attending this specialized primary care facility who had no diabetes, recent ischaemic phenomenon and not in heart failure were studied with blood glucose as outcome measure. Basic clinico-demographic data and information related to the HBP were collected. A total of 210 hypertensives seen over the study period satisfied enrolment criteria; out of whom 108 were females. Mean age was 56.42 (10.46) with a span of 31 to 88 years. Most of them were middle aged. HBP history ranged from 5 to 240 months; with a mean of 71.74 (53.35). Their mean (SD) FBG when first seen in the clinic was 5.10 mmol/l (0.94) which marginally rose to 5.20 mmol/l (0.85) by the time of the study. The glucose was more likely to rise in females (p=0.013), with longstanding HBP (p=0.000), use of beta blockers/diuretic (p=0.014), co-administration of statins (p=0.006) and with metabolic syndrome co-morbidity (p=0.028). In conclusion, chances of developing impaired glycaemia or new onset DM with antihypertensive treatment are higher in women, family history of diabetes, longer duration of hypertension, use of beta blockers or thiazide diuretics, use of statins and presence of the metabolic syndrome. These should be considered while initiating treatment in hypertensives to avoid introducing additional risk factors.