Serum Urea and Creatinine Profiles among Hypertensive Patients in Enugu, Nigeria: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is associated with renal morbidity, and serum urea and creatinine remain commonly used biochemical markers for routine assessment of renal function, particularly in settings where advanced renal investigations may be limited. This study assessed demographic and clinical variations in serum urea and creatinine levels among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 hypertensive patients receiving care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Participants with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions other than hypertension, pregnancy, use of smedications known to affect kidney function, or other chronic illnesses that could influence blood urea and creatinine levels were excluded. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, including age, sex, duration of hypertension, and blood pressure control status, were recorded. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum creatinine was determined using the modified Jaffe kinetic method, while serum urea was analysed using the Diacetyl Monoxime method. Data were analysed using GraphPad Prism version 8.0. Continuous variables were summarised as mean ± standard deviation, and group comparisons were performed using Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Serum urea and creatinine levels differed significantly across demographic and clinical categories. Mean urea and creatinine increased across age groups from 6.25 ± 1.74 mmol/L and 1.01 ± 0.27 mg/100 ml in participants aged 40 years to 8.77 ± 1.82 mmol/L and 1.33 ± 0.16 mg/100 ml in those aged 51–60 years. Males had higher mean urea and creatinine levels than females. Patients with hypertension for more than 10 years had higher mean values than those with shorter disease duration. Uncontrolled blood pressure was associated with higher urea and creatinine levels than controlled blood pressure. Conclusion: Age, sex, duration of hypertension, and blood pressure control status were associated with variations in serum urea and creatinine among hypertensive patients in this hospital-based study.