Research Article
Renal Dysfunction among Ghanaians Living with
Clinically Diagnosed Hypertension in the Asutifi-South
District: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study at
the St. Elizabeth Hospital, Hwidiem
Sylvester Yao Lokpo ,
1
James Osei-Yeboah ,
1
William K. B. A. Owiredu ,
2,3
Francis Abeku Ussher,
4
Verner Ndudiri Orish,
5
Felix Gadzeto,
6
Paul Ntiamoah,
6
Felix Botchway,
7
Ivan Muanah,
8
and Romeo Asumbasiya Aduko
1
1
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
2
Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana
3
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diagnostic Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
4
Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana
5
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
6
Laboratory Department, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Catholic Health Services, Hwidiem, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana
7
Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
8
St. Elizabeth Hospital, Catholic Health Services, Hwidiem, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana
Correspondence should be addressed to Sylvester Yao Lokpo; sylvesteryao34@gmail.com
Received 24 July 2018; Revised 14 October 2018; Accepted 29 October 2018; Published 5 November 2018
Academic Editor: Tomohiro Katsuya
Copyright © 2018 Sylvester Yao Lokpo et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Background. Tis study aimed at evaluating the burden of renal dysfunction among people living with hypertension in the Asutif-
South District of the Brong Ahafo Region, who were attending clinic at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Hwidiem. Methodology.
A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among two hundred (200) hypertensive clients aged between 27 and 88
years who reported for clinical management from January to March, 2018. Data on sociodemography, comorbid disease status,
antihypertensive medication, and their duration was obtained using a semistructured questionnaire and patient folders. Blood
pressure, weight, and creatinine were measured using standard methods. Kidney function was assessed using Cockcrof Gault (CG),
Four-Variable Modifcation of Diet in Renal Disease (4v-MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration
(CKD-EPI) equations. Te 2012 Kidney Disease Improvement Global Outcome (KDIGO) Criteria were used to categorize renal
function among study participants. Results. Renal impairment was observed among 25.00%, 9.50%, and 10.50% of study participants
using CG, 4v-MDRD, and CKD-EPI equations, respectively. With the exception of CKD-EPI equation, females signifcantly record-
ed higher scores compared to their male counterparts (28.95% vs 12.5%, 11.84%, vs 2.08%) using CG and 4v-MDRD, respectively.
Participants aged 50 years or more recorded the highest renal impairment. Conclusion. Renal dysfunction is common among people
living with hypertension in the Asutif-South District of the Brong Ahafo Region. Femininity, older age, disease comorbidity with
diabetes, Tiazide diuretic and AR Blocker usage, and increasing duration of medication accounted for higher kidney dysfunction.
Regular screening and management are therefore recommended to avert progression to end-stage renal failure (ESRD).
1. Introduction
Te global public health importance of renal dysfunction is
increasing due to a host of reasons including an increasing
number of patients progressing to end-stage renal disease
(ESRD), high costs to public health systems, and its associated
morbidity and mortality, particularly those associated with
cardiovascular disease [1]. Te prevalence of hypertension is
Hindawi
International Journal of Hypertension
Volume 2018, Article ID 8428063, 8 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8428063