Prevalence And Determinants Of Hypertension Among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Kintampo Municipal Hospital

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are both serious non-communicable diseases and are among four non-communicable diseases of global concern. Individually, hypertension or diabetes mellitus increases risk for cardiovascular diseases. The risk however markedly increases when the two diseases coexist. Information on the determinants of hypertension among diabetics in Kintampo is rare and hence obstructs effort at preventing and controlling hypertension among diabetics. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and determinants of hypertension among diabetes mellitus patients attending Kintampo Municipal Hospital. Methods: The study was an analytic cross-sectional study involving 257 participants. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. Samples of blood were collected for measuring fasting blood glucose. Using mercury sphygmomanometer, participants’ blood pressures were measured. Anthropometric measurements were taken with stretch-resistant tape measure and weighing scale. Using a structured questionnaire, sociodemographic characteristics, behavioural/lifestyle characteristics, medical/family history and knowledge level on diabetes mellitus and hypertension of respondents were obtained. STATA version 15.0 was used to perform the analysis. Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine the association between hypertension among diabetics and the socio-demographic characteristics, behavioural/lifestyle characteristics, medical/family history, knowledge level on diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and clinical and anthropometric measurements of respondents. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the magnitude of association between hypertension among diabetics and the selected independent variables. Results: Out of the 257 participants, 65.4% were females. The mean age of respondents was 57.1 ± 11.8 years with majority (29.6%) of participants within the age group 60 to 69. The overall prevalence of hypertension among diabetics was 59.1% (95%CI = 53.0% – 65.0%). Among those who had hypertension, 49.3% (95%CI = 41.4% – 57.3%) indicated they were diagnosed to be hypertensive after living with diabetes. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, family history of both hypertension and diabetes mellitus (aOR= 12.22, 95% CI= 5.41 – 27.60), fasting blood glucose (aOR= 6.80, 95% CI= 2.67 – 17.31) and being overweight (aOR= 14.33, 95% CI= 2.52 – 81.49) were significantly associated with the occurrence of hypertension among diabetics. Conclusion: Proportion of diabetes mellitus patients with hypertension is high. Increase in fasting blood glucose, having positive family history of both diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and being overweight increases the odds of hypertension among diabetics. Control of blood glucose level and awareness creation on risk factors for hypertension may reduce development of hypertension among diabetics.