Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in primary care settings in al Seeb Wilayat, Oman

الملخص EN

Objectives : This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) among Omani hypertensive patients, on treatment and under primary health care (PHC) follow-up in Al Seeb Wilayat, Oman.

Socio-demographic and clinical factors were explored for possible influence on blood pressure (BP) control.

Methods: Based on an assumption of 50% prevalence of uncontrolled HTN, a retrospective data collection was conducted on the last three follow-up visits of 411 randomly selected Omani adults ( ≥ 18 years) from 3.459 hypertensive patients.

Adequate BP control was defined using criteria from 7th Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention Detection Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7).

A P value of <0.05 and odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to assess for association.

Results : The targets for adequate BP control were achieved in 39% of the studied patients (95% confidence interval [CI] : 34–44%).

Lower BP control was found among hypertensive’s with diabetes (6.4%, P = <0.001) and renal disease (18.5%, P = 0.02); those with cardiovascular disease (CVD) showed relatively better control (58%).

Age and gender had no impact on BP control.

Most patients were only on one (24%) or two (47%) antihypertensive medications, the most frequently used being β-blockers (58.2%) and diuretics (56.3%).

Conclusion: HTN is not adequately controlled in over 60% of treated patients; the presence of co-morbidity and less than aggressive treatment are significant contributors.

Improving the quality of HTN care is a priority; effective efforts should be undertaken to improve BP control.