DETERMINANTS OF HYPERTENSION AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a growing public health problem with a remarkable contribution to morbidity and mortality. The frequency of hypertension among the diabetic population is almost twice that of no diabetic patients. Hypertension with diabetes increases mortality risk by 7.2 times with a higher risk of death in developing countries like Ethiopia, Africa’s first ranked country with the number of diabetes mellitus patients. But, studies on determinants of hypertension among diabetic patients in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia were limited. Objective: To identify, determinants of hypertension among diabetic patients attending public hospital of Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia, 2021 Methods: An institutional_ based case control study was conducted from March 18 to May 18, 2021. Cases were all diabetic Mellitus patients diagnosed with hypertension and controls were all diabetic Mellitus patients without hypertension and who are under routine follow-up at the selected hospitals. The total sample size was 240(80 cases and 160 controls). Systematic random sampling technique was used to select both cases and controls. Data were collected by KOBO collect and exported to SPSS version 25 software package for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval was done to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. In the final model, the strength of association was declared by using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval and, statistical significance was declared at P _value < 0.05. Result: The study was conducted on 240(80 cases and 160 controls). Those diabetic patient living in urban area (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI (1.190, 4.213).), having monthly income of 3996 – 10000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) (AOR= 3.41, 95% CI ((1.448, 8.039)) , poor glycemic control (AOR= 2.71, 95% CI ((1.441, 5.083), non-adherence to diabetic diet (AOR= 2.61, 95% CI (1.268, 5.368) and having higher waist to hip ratio (WHR) (AOR =3.1, 95% CI (1.572, 6.023)) had higher odds of hypertension. Conclusion: In this study the odds of hypertension were positively determined by urban residence, having a monthly income of 3996 – 10000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB), non _adherence to diet, poor glycemic control and, a higher waist to hip ratio. Therefore, strengthening behavioral change and communication through health education should be encouraged. :