Magnitude and Determinants of Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Among Hypertensive Patients in Northern Ethiopia, 2018: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aims: Uncontrolled blood pressure is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial diseases, and it is a leading cause of death. There is limited information on the magnitude of uncontrolled blood pressure and its determinants in Ethiopia particularly to the study setting. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and determinants of uncontrolled blood pressure among hypertensive patients in Northern Ethiopia, 2018. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from February to April 2018. During the data collection period, blood pressure was measured twice from each study participants and an average of the two measurements five minutes apart was taken. Socio-demographic and lifestyle data collected using face to face interviews; record reviews, and anthropometric measurements also used for clinical and anthropometric data. Four hundred forty-five hypertensive patients were included in this study through a systematic random sampling technique. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done to identify the determinants of uncontrolled blood pressure. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were used to show the strength of association, and to declare statistical significance at P-value <0.05. Result: According to this study, 340 (76.4%) of participants had uncontrolled blood pressure. The determinants of uncontrolled blood pressure were no formal education (AOR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.01-3.52), alcohol drinking (AOR=4.18, 95%CI: 1.81-9.66), and every one-month follow-up (AOR=2.54, 95%CI: (1.19-5.39). Conclusion: uncontrolled blood pressure was high. No formal education, alcohol drinking, and every one-month follow-up were determinants of uncontrolled blood pressure. So, health education on lifestyle modifications and hypertension-related complications in each follow-up visit through health professionals are essential for the prevention of hypertension complications.