Blood Pressure control and Associated Factors among Hypertensive Patients Attending Health Centers of Addis Ababa

Abstract

Blood Pressure Control and Associated Factors among Hypertensive Patients Attending Health Centers of Addis Ababa Firehiwot Amare Addis Ababa University, 2016 Hypertension is the major contributor to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) related morbidity and mortality. Although antihypertensive therapy clearly reduces the risks of CVDs, blood pressure (BP) is often not adequately controlled in clinical practice. Information regarding BP control in primary care settings is limited in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess BP control and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending health centers (HC) of Addis Ababa. A cross sectional study was conducted in 12 HC of Addis Ababa by including 616 patients. Data was collected by patient interview and patients’ medication record review. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The mean age of study participants was 58.90 ± 13.04, majority of patients 321(52.1%) were ≥60 years old. Majority of the patients were on monotherapy 485(78.9%). Alpha 2 agonist was the commonest monotherapy used 128 (20.8%). While the combination of thiazide diuretic with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor 45 (7.3%) was the common combination therapy. Majority of the participants 427(69.3%) were adherent to antihypertensive medications. BP was controlled in 191(31.0%) of patients. Age younger than 60 years (AOR= 3.06, 95% CI: 1.95, 4.79), work status; government employee (AOR= 2.47, 95% CI: 1.21, 5.02), retired (AOR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.19), private business (AOR= 1.98, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.55); hypertension diagnosis ≥10 years (AOR= 1.88, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.31) and non-adherence to medications (AOR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.63) were identified as factors positively associated with uncontrolled BP while weekly BP measurement (AOR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.89) and tertiary level education (AOR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.54) were negatively associated with uncontrolled BP. BP control was low and requires a concerted effort from health professionals and patients to decrease associated CVDs.