Uncontrolled hypertension in a group of hypertensive patients in Erbil

Abstract EN

Background : hypertension is a powerful risk factor for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease events, and many randomized trials showed that hypertension control is associated with a decrease in incidence of stroke and coronary heart disease.

Objective : this study was carried out to identify the prevalence of, and factors associated with, uncontrolled hypertension in a group of hypertensive patients in Erbil.

Patients and methods : A cross sectional study was carried out.

A convenience sample of 400 hypertensive patients attended outpatient clinics at Rizgary teaching hospital in Erbil city was included.

This study was extended from 1st April 2011 through 31st March 2012.

The data were obtained by a direct interview with the patients using a questionnaire a specially designed questionnaire.

The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, version 18.0) was used for data entry and analysis.

Results : the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was (58.8 %).

The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension among males hypertensive patients were 61.8 %.

and among females were 57.5 %.

The Logistic regressions analysis of uncontrolled hypertension showed a statistically significant association between uncontrolled hypertension with current smoker (OR = 8.77), regularity of treatment (OR = 0.296), exercise (OR = 0.414) and type of antihypertensive drugs : diuretics (OR = 11.938), ACEI (OR = 7.907) beta blockers (OR = 7.096), and CCB (OR = 7.169).

Conclusions : more than half of the hypertensive patients were uncontrolled.

The factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension were smoking, lack of exercise, irregularity of treatment (non-adherence to treatment).

Recommendations : there is a need to stimulate researches and further studies, such as complete community based case ascertainment.