Abstract
Background
Hypertensive crisis are burdensome in sub Saharan Africa than every other part of the world. Few studies have been done to assess the effectiveness of Nifedipine among blacks in sub-Saharan Africa, the region which ironically has the highest burden of hypertensive urgency in the world hence the need for this study.
Results
Out of the 328 hypertensive patients that presented at the health center for the study, 40 were diagnosed with hypertensive urgency. The overall use of nifedipine was moderately efficacious, as nifedipine did not reduce the diastolic pressure by 10 percent or the mean arterial pressure by 25 percent in 23 out of 40 participants(57.5%). However, it was effective by standard in a considerable 17 out of 40patients(42.5%). The oral route of administration was efficacious in only 2 out of 6(33.3%)participants, while the sublingual route was efficacious in 15 out of 34(44.1%). Nifedipine was efficacious in 4 out of 10(40%) of those who waited for 30 minutes before checking their post-administration blood pressure, 1 out of 2(50%) of those who waited for 45 minutes, 10 out of 25(40%) of those who waited for 60 minutes, and 2 out of 3(66.6%) of those who waited for 120 minutes. Nifedipine was efficacious in 17 out of 35(48.6%) of the participants administered 20 mg, while it was not efficacious in those administered 40 mg. However, the proportion of those administered 20 mg was overwhelmingly more than those administered 40 mg.
Conclusion
This study reveals that the efficacy of Nifedipine in the management of hypertensive urgency among blacks in Oyo town is at best average. The sublingual route of administration is more effective than chewing the tablets (the oral route) and the dose of Nifedipine administered does not affect the efficacy of Nifedipine in steadily lowering the blood pressure in hypertensive urgency.