Blood pressure control and associated factors among hypertensive patients in University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital in South-South Nigeria

Background: Hypertension a controllable disease is responsible for about 45% of deaths due to heart diseases and 51% of deaths due to stroke globally as at 2013. In Nigeria, a prevalence of 8-46.4% was reported depending on the population of interest. This study was to determine the level of BP control and associated factors among hypertensive patients in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in South-South Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Sequel to requisite ethical approval this study was conducted among 423 hypertensive patients who were attending specialist clinics in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria. The patients were selected by systematic sampling technique. A pre-tested close ended interviewer-administered questionnaire and sphygmomanometer were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using Epi Info Version 7.02 statistical software with descriptive and analytical statistics used.Results: The results showed that BP control was 36.69% with mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 147.28 ± 21.76 mmHg and 88.27 ± 15.18 mmHg respectively. BP control was significantly associated with being female (OR: 1.98; 95% CI= 1.29-3.05; p = 0.001), current alcohol consumption (OR: 2.42; 95% CI = 1.28-4.80; p = 0.006). Other factors were adherence to medications, consulting a CAM practitioner and use of CAM products.Conclusion: The low level of BP control required physicians to counsel their patients on the need for medication adherence, avoidance of alcohol consumption and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which this study has identified as predictors of poor BP control.Key words: Hypertension, blood pressure control