Uncontrolled hypertension and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients in Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability and improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions with proven benefits in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, control rates of hypertension remain poor and grossly inadequate. Around one billion individuals are living with uncontrolled hypertension globally. Uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive patients on treatment in Ethiopia ranges from 11.4 to 69.9%. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of uncontrolled hypertension among hypertensive patients in Ayder comprehensive specialized hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia 2018. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from February 16-April 30/2018. Simple random sampling method was used to select 320 participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered standard structured questionnaire. Self-care practice measuring tool was adopted from hypertension self-care activity level effects (H-scale). Data was entered to and cleaned by Epi Info version 7 and it was exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model (AOR, 95% CI and p-value < 0.05) was used to determine the predictors of uncontrolled hypertension. RESULT: From the total respondents, 164 (51.2%) were females. The mean age of the respondents was 53.83 + 14.52 years. Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was found 52.5%. Overweight (AOR = 4.527, 95% CI: 2.247-9.123), co-morbidity (AOR = 2.112, 95% CI: 1.218-3.662), non-adherence to anti-hypertensive medication (AOR = 2.062, 95% CI: 1.030-4.129), non-adherence to physical activity (AOR = 1.931, 95% CI: 1.074-3.470) and non-adherence to alcohol abstinence (AOR = 2.093, 95% CI: 1.109-3.948) are independent predictors of uncontrolled hypertension. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension is high. Patients' adherence to antihypertensive medication, physical exercise and alcohol abstinence should be maximized. Weight reduction and early identification and management of co-morbidities are also crucial.