Blood Pressure Control and Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients Attending Shashemene Referral Hospital, Oromia, Ethiopia

Background: Hypertension is public health challenge worldwide. It is defined as persistently elevated arterial blood pressure (BP), systolic BP (SBP) >= 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) >= 90 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication in adults older than 18 years. The aim of this study was to assess blood pressure control and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending the outpatient department of Shashemene Referral Hospital. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted to determine level of blood pressure control and associated factors among hypertensive patients on medical follow-up. A medical chart review and interview was conducted from July 1 to October 31 2018. Result: A total of 325 participants were included in this study with response rate of 320 (98.5%). More than half of study participants were males 171 (53.4%). The mean age of the respondents was 55.10 (SD +/- 12.7) years and majority of the respondents 191 (59.7%) were within age of less than 60 years old. The mean Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 131.80 mmHg (SD +/- 20.92) while the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 82.30 mmHg (SD +/- 10.52). About 51.30% of study participants had a controlled SBP and 54.7% had a controlled DBP. The overall control of BP was achieved in 40.3% of the study participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, experience of side effects, frequency of BP measuring, number of antihypertensive drugs used, duration on antihypertensive, source of medication and physical exercise showed significant association with blood pressure control. Conclusion: Blood pressure control level among chronic hypertensive patients at outpatient department was low. Age of patients, educational level, experience of side effects, and number of antihypertensive drugs used were important determinant factors associated with blood pressure control among study participants.