Bronhilda Tifuh T^1,2,3, Yannick Mboue-Djieka², Anastase Dzudie^3,4, Doualla Marie S⁴,Leopold N Aminde^3,5, Simeon Pierre Choukem^2,4

Authors’ affiliations

1. Mboppi Baptist Hospital Douala,
2. Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network,
3. Clinical Research Education Networking and Consultancy (CRENC) Research Network,
4. Douala General Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Corresponding author: Simeon Pierre CHOUKEM, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with a high cardiovascular risk due to chronic inflammation and development of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. High blood pressure (BP) is the major cause of stroke, heart and renal disease in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Whether the BP profile of patients with RA in SSA differs from that of normal subjects is unknown. We aimed at studying the BP profile of patients RA and compared to normal subjects.

Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study on 20 participants with RA, age and sex-matched with 20 healthy participants. All participants underwent a 24-hour Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Data were analyzed using Epi Info version7.

Results: Majority of the participants were females (16, 80 % per group), the median age (interquartile range) of participants was 41 (30.5 – 49) years. The median Body Mass index was not different in both groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in Systolic BP dippers, non-dippers and reverse dippers in both groups (p >0.05). There were more diastolic BP dippers in the RA group (65% vs. 30%, p=0.027). Prevalent nocturnal and masked hypertension was similar in both groups (p>0.05). We did not find any factors independently associated with non-dipping systolic (diastolic) BP or nocturnal hypertension.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that compared to healthier participants, individuals with RA present with diastolic BP dipping pattern but similar other patterns of BP profile. Large epidemiological studies are warranted to further explore these findings. 

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, blood pressure profile, nocturnal hypertension, masked hypertension.