Predictors of blood pressure control amongst primary care patients of a teaching hospital in Bauchi, North-Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Poorly managed hypertension is still a serious global public health issue, despite medication. It is unclear what is causing treated hypertensive patients to have trouble achieving their target blood pressure (BP). The goal of this study was to determine the predictors of BP control amongst hypertensive patients attending a teaching hospital in North-eastern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 277 hypertensive patients from a tertiary healthcare institution. Data were analysed using version 20 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequency and percentages were used to summarise data while Chi-square test was used to test for associations. To identify the factors linked to BP control, logistic regression was employed. At P < 0.05, predictors of BP control were found using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The respondents' average age was 53.1 ± 14.6 years, of which 67.5% were female. The level of optimal BP control was 40.8%. Factors associated with reduced BP control include not currently married (AOR = 0.29 [95% CI: 0.16-0.53], P ≤ 0.0001), imperfect adherence (AOR = 0.37 [95% CI: 0.22-0.64], P ≤ 0.0001), taking more than two drugs (AOR = 0.3 [95% CI: 0.14-0.64], P = 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 (AOR = 0.40 [95% CI: 0.22-0.72], P = 0.002). The optimal BP control is alarmingly low in this setting. Marital status, medication adherence, increased pill burden and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 negatively affect the attainment of BP control.