Uncontrolled Hypertension in a Group of Hypertensive Patients in Erbil

Abstract

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 of 1^st April 2011 through 31^st 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.