@Article{Opeodu2017,
journal="Journal of Stomatology",
issn="0011-4553",
volume="70",
number="2",
year="2017",
title="Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension amongst dental
patients in the University College Hospital,
Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria",
abstract="Introduction. Hypertension is one of the medical conditions that are of great importance in the management of dental patients. It may present as an emergency during dental treatment or necessitate a change in patient’s management. Aim of the study. To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and the level of control in diagnosed hypertensive patients presenting at a dental outpatient clinic in Nigeria. Material and methods. A crosssectional survey of patients presenting at the Dental Outpatient Clinic of a Nigerian tertiary hospital was undertaken. Consenting patients above 15 years of age had their blood pressure assessed with the aid of a digital sphygmomanometer. The relationship between blood pressure and body mass index, family history of hypertension as well as socioeconomic status were assessed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. A total of 552 subjects were recruited, with 107 (19.4%) previously on antihypertensive drugs but only 14 (13.0%) on an antihypertensive had a normal blood pressure. Forty-one (9.2%) subjects were hypertensive but were not aware of it. There was a statistically significant relationship between positive family history of high blood pressure and high diastolic blood pressure. There was also a statistically significant relationship between blood pressure and age (p< 0.05). Conclusion. The study demonstrated that hypertensive patients constitute an important proportion of dental patients. Thus, the dental profession has a unique role in the early detection of hypertension. Also patients’ opinion of their blood pressure may be insufficient for optimal dental management.  ",
author="Opeodu, Olanrewaju
and Adeyemi, Bukola F.",
pages="183--190",
doi="10.5604/01.3001.0010.1845",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.1845"
}