Abstract:
OBJECTIVE : To determine the prevalence and factors associated with blood pressure (BP) control.
METHODS : In a cross-sectional study involving 251 consecutively-sampled patients, a semi-structured questionnaire
collected information on socio-demography, co-morbidities, hypertension treatments and BP control. Data analysis
included descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
RESULTS : Most participants were: on treatment for >5 years (60.6%); on three or more drugs (93.6%); treated according to
guidelines (77%); and reported not missing medications in the last week (86.5%). BP control was achieved in only 31.5% and
16.7% of participants at the current and last visits, respectively. In multivariate regression analysis, a history of myocardial
infarction (odd ratio [OR]¼0.41; P¼0.04) and being divorced/widowed (OR¼3.1; P¼0.01) predicted poor BP control.
CONCLUSION : This study confirms the prevalent sub-optimal control of BP and suggests the need for further studies to
examine the relationship between marital support, critical medical events and BP control.
