Prevalence and factors associated with controlled blood pressure among hypertensive patients in a Malaysian primary health clinic-a cross-sectional study

Background Controlled Blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients is essential in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Even a slight reduction in BP control may significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes. Several factors have been associated with controlled BP. We aimed to determine the prevalence of controlled BP among hypertensive patients and its associated factors in a Malaysian primary health clinic. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above with underlying hypertension who attended a public healthcare clinic located in a suburban area of Melaka, Malaysia, from December 2024 to February 2025. Participants were selected via systematic random sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, medical records, and clinical blood pressure measurement. Blood pressure control status was determined based on clinic blood pressure readings measured during visits. Documented home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) records, when available in the medical records, were reviewed as supplementary clinical information. A multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine the factors associated with controlled blood pressure. Results A total of 460 hypertensive patients were included in this study, with a response rate of 96.8%. Only 41.5% of the participants (n = 191) had controlled BP. The median age was 64 (IQR:17) and the majority were female (57.4%, n = 264). The significant factors associated with controlled blood pressure among the study population were increasing age (aOR = 1.037, 95% CI [1.018,1.057], p < 0.001), female gender (aOR = 2.092, 95% CI [1.388,3.151], p < 0.001), participants who took one or two anti-hypertensive (aOR = 1.921, 95% CI [1.145,3.224],p = 0.013) and (aOR = 2.830, 95% CI [1.637,4.895], p < 0.001) respectively, participants without diabetes (aOR = 1.689, 95% CI [1.112,2.566], p = 0.014), and participant who had documented HBPM (aOR = 4.489, 95% CI [2.337,8.623], p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings suggest that the prevalence of controlled blood pressure, 41.5% is still low among the study population. Controlled blood pressure was associated with increasing age, female gender, patients on fewer than three antihypertensive medications, hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus, and those who have documented home blood pressure monitoring.