Effect of Age and Heart Rate on the Blood Pressure Parameters of 5343 Africans South of the Sahara

Regarding the burden of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa, we wanted to know if age and heart rate would influence blood pressure parameters differently in black African subjects. Our research hypothesis was that there is no difference between the white race and the black race regarding the evolution of blood pressure parameters according to age and heart rate. This was a descriptive study for analytical purposes from secondary analysis of the WHO STEPwise survey in Senegal in 2015. The study included 5343 individuals. As results, isolated systolic hypertension predominated in those over 50 years of age, while isolated diastolic hypertension predominated in subjects under 50 years of age. There is a statistically significant relationship between heart rate and diastolic blood pressure (p-Value<0.001, cor=0.149). Mean diastolic blood pressure evolved in the shape of an "inverted U" with age. Mean systolic blood pressure evolved in the form of a "stair step" with age. The frequency of subjects with pathological pulse pressure was highest in the age groups [50-54 years], [55-59 years], [60-64 years] and [65-70 years]. To conclude, all these findings are also found in studies carried out on white subjects. This is explained by the physiopathology that is common to us such as the cardiac cycle, arterial rigidity, and arterial pulse wave. The measurement of the arterial pulse wave must be made systematic. It should be an integral part of blood pressure measurement because it provides additional diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic interest in the management of arterial hypertension.