Blood Pressure Control with Reference to Intensive Blood Pressure Targets Among Hypertension Patients on Chronic Follow-Up at Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Hypertension is a risk factor for heart, brain, kidney, and other diseases. It is also the major cause of premature death. Thus, it is important to prevent, treat, and control hypertension and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To determine the level of blood pressure control and associated factors based on the new intensive blood pressure goals (<130/80 mmHg).

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the level of blood pressure control and associated factors from February 15 to April 15, 2019. Two hundred and sixteen patients were selected through a systematic sampling technique.

Results

From 203 hypertension patients incorporated in the study, 102 (50.2%) were females. The mean age of patients documented during the last date of follow-up was 55.2 (SD=±14.47). About 51.2% of patients were less than 5 years from the day of diagnosis of hypertension. The majority of the study participants (111, 54.7%) were using two antihypertensives. The most common anti-hypertensive medication was hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), at 25 (12.3%). The most common combination drug therapy used was the combination of HCT and calcium channel blockers, at 62 (30.5%). Heart failure (22, 20.8%), stroke (18, 16.98%), and dyslipidemia (17, 16.04%) were the top three comorbidities. Based on the new intensive targets of blood pressure control (<130/80 mmHg), the blood pressure was controlled for only 25 (12%) patients.

Conclusion

The level of blood pressure control for hypertensive patients on chronic follow-up at Dessie Referral Hospital was very poor.

Keywords:

• blood pressure control
• Dessie Referral Hospital
• hypertension

Data Sharing Statement

All the data used for the study is contained within the manuscript.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The ethical clearance was obtained from the Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University. Informed verbal consent was obtained from the respondents and the Department of Pharmacy Ethical Review Board approved the verbal consent process. To keep the privacy, name of participants were omitted from the data collection format. The confidentiality of their personal information was kept according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge administrators and pharmacists of DRH who help us during data collection and our deep appreciation goes to data collectors.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

No specific fund was available to undertake this study.