M M Batubenga1, O B Omole2, M C Bondo3. 1. Specialist Family Physician, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. 2. Head of Clinical unit and Senior Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa alagbaomole@gmail.com. 3. Head of Clinical unit and Senior Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with blood pressure (BP) control. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study involving 251 consecutively-sampled patients, a semi-structured questionnaire collected information on socio-demography, co-morbidities, hypertension treatments and BP control. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS: Most participants were: on treatment for >5 years (60.6%); on three or more drugs (93.6%); treated according to guidelines (77%); and reported not missing medications in the last week (86.5%). BP control was achieved in only 31.5% and 16.7% of participants at the current and last visits, respectively. In multivariate regression analysis, a history of myocardial infarction (odd ratio [OR] = 0.41; P = 0.04) and being divorced/widowed (OR = 3.1; P = 0.01) predicted poor BP control. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the prevalent sub-optimal control of BP and suggests the need for further studies to examine the relationship between marital support, critical medical events and BP control.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with blood pressure (BP) control. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study involving 251 consecutively-sampled patients, a semi-structured questionnaire collected information on socio-demography, co-morbidities, hypertension treatments and BP control. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS: Most participants were: on treatment for >5 years (60.6%); on three or more drugs (93.6%); treated according to guidelines (77%); and reported not missing medications in the last week (86.5%). BP control was achieved in only 31.5% and 16.7% of participants at the current and last visits, respectively. In multivariate regression analysis, a history of myocardial infarction (odd ratio [OR] = 0.41; P = 0.04) and being divorced/widowed (OR = 3.1; P = 0.01) predicted poor BP control. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the prevalent sub-optimal control of BP and suggests the need for further studies to examine the relationship between marital support, critical medical events and BP control.