EFFECT OF STRUCTURED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIY ON BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE ADULTS ATTENDINGTHE GENERAL OUT PATEINT CLINIC AND MEDICAL OUT PATIENT CLINIC OF AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL

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Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
Hypertension (HTN) is a major public health problem because of its rising prevalence worldwide.Globally, prevalence of HTN in adults was around 22% in 2014. In Africa, of19.7% - 30.8% prevalence was reported in 2010. Similarly, in NorthernNigeria, the prevalence of HTN was 32.3% and 39.1%in Maiduguri and Kano respectively.This high prevalence of hypertension prompts primary prevention with lifestylemodification such as increased physical activity. This study was anexperimental (interventional) study (pre and post) conducted ingeneral out-patient clinic (GOPC) and medical out-patient clinic(MOPC) of Aminu Kano teaching hospital, Kano State Nigeria. A total of 98 adult hypertensiveadultrespondents were recruited using simple random sampling technique and assigned to either intervention or control group by random allocation (balloting). Interviewer administered questionnaire was administered. Majority of the respondents‘ were females (64.3%). Their ages ranged between 25 to 62 years with age group 55 – 64 years the majority and mean ages of 48.6 ± 12.7 years. Areduction of 4.01 mmHg(P-value: < 0.05)and 3.15 mmHg(P-value: < 0.05)was observed in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure among the intervention than the control group after 3 months structured physical activity. Also, there was more decrease in pulse rate of 0.61 beats per minute (P-value of < 0.05)in the intervention group. Similarly, more reduction of 0.003 (P-value: <0.05) in waist hip ratio among females was observed in the intervention than the control group. Structured physical activity with pedometer reduces blood pressure among hypertensive adults in Kano. Werecommendthe inclusion of structured physical activity using pedometer in the treatment guidelines of hypertension. Key Words: Hypertension, physical activity, pedometer, AKTH, Kano.