Open AccessASSOCIATION OF DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS ON BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG ADULT HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING A UGANDAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL
Author(s) -
Annet Patience Nakalega,
Levicatus Mugenyi,
Lilian Nuwabaine,
Mathius amperiize,
K. B. Tabusibwa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african journal of health safety and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2695-2386
pISSN - 2695-1819
DOI - 10.52417/ajhse.v2i2.173
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , overweight , body mass index , logistic regression , obesity , outpatient clinic , cross sectional study , risk factor , physical therapy , pathology
Hypertension is an important worldwide public-health challenge due to its high prevalence and being a risk factor for cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and chronic renal diseases. Despite these risk factors, blood pressure control among hypertensive patients is still poor. The main objective was to assess dietary and lifestyle factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure control among Ugandan hypertensive patients at Kiruddu hospital. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study involving 271 adult hypertensive patients attending the outpatient hypertensive clinic was enrolled. Data were obtained on dietary, lifestyle factors (alcohol intake, smoking status, and level of physical activity), social demographics, Body Mass Index (BMI), comorbidities, and adherence to hypertensive medication. An average of the current and previous two Blood pressure readings was recorded. Factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The mean age of study participants was 57 ± 0.76 years, with female dominance (77.9%). Among the study participants, 121 (44.7%) had uncontrolled BP. Dietary factors that were associated with uncontrolled blood pressure with adjusted OR (95%CI) included consumption of raw salt: 4.18 (1.32-13.24) and inadequate fruit consumption: 2.18 (1.26-3.75) while clinical factors included being overweight: 2.51 (1.27-4.95) and poor adherence to antihypertensive medications prescribed: 1.82 (1.03-3.21). Conclusion: The proportion of hypertensive patients with uncontrolled Blood Pressure was high (44.7%). Consumption of raw salt, inadequate fruit consumption, being overweight and poor adherence to antihypertensive medication were significantly associated with uncontrolled BP. From these findings, factors that were associated with the control of blood pressure are modifiable.