Abstract
Background: - Uncontrolled hypertension is if SBP is ≥140 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥90 mm Hg for general hypertensive population or if SBP ≥130 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥80 mm Hg in patients with established diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease based on the average of two or more properly measured, seated, BP readings on each of two or more office visits. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients in public hospitals of central zone, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018. Methods:- A hospital based cross sectional study design was used. The study population was all sampled adult hypertensive patients who had follow up in public hospitals of central zone, Tigray and the data collection period was from March 01 to April 30, 2018. About 421 study participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire, chart review checklist and measurements were used. The collected data was checked for its completeness manually and then entered and cleaned in to epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical packages for social science version 22 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were done to identify factors of uncontrolled hypertension. Then those variables significant at p<0.25 with the outcome variable in bivariate analysis were selected for multivariable analysis and odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and p-value < 0.05 was described as a significant association in multivariable analysis. Result: - Among 421 respondents about 177(42%) had uncontrolled hypertension. Co-morbidity [AOR=0.36, (0.205, 0.631)], five to ten years duration of medication taken [AOR=0.398, (0.218, 0.725)], side effect of medication [AOR=0.542, (0.339, 0.866)] and medication adherence [AOR=4.092, (2.419, 6.924)] were significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension. Conclusion: - In this study the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension was high. Co-morbidity, antihypertensive medication taken for long duration, side effect of antihypertensive medication and non adherence to antihypertensive medication shows statistical association with uncontrolled hypertension.