Abstract:
Background: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are among the non-communicable chronic
diseases that threaten human being throughout the entire world. The presence of
Hypertension is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hypertension and
diabetes are now challenging the developing world including Ethiopia. However Limited
studies were conducted to screen hypertensive patients for diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan
country and no study were conducted in this study area.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess magnitude of both diagnosed and
undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients in
attending hypertension clinic of Dessie referral hospital, North east Ethiopia 2019.
Methods and materials: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 8
to May 22 2019. A total of 407 respondents were included in the study using simple random
sampling. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire adapted from world health
organization steps instrument was used to collect data. Finally, descriptive statistics and
logistic regression were conducted to assess the magnitude of diabetes and associated
factors. P value of less than 0.05 was declared as level of significance.
Result: The magnitude of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was 6.8% and the total
magnitude of diabetes mellitus among Dessie referral hospital hypertensive patients were
29.2 %. Family history of diabetes mellitus, waist to height ratio and waist circumference
were significantly associated with increased risk of overall diabetes mellitus among
hypertensive patients. Hypertension duration, past daily smoker, diastolic blood pressure,
educational label and waist circumference were significantly associated with increased risk
of diagnosed diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: Out of the total hypertensive patients on follow-up, around one in fourteen were
diagnosed newly for diabetes and one third of all were diabetes. The magnitude of newly
diagnosed diabetes mellitus and the total magnitude of diabetes mellitus were positively
associated with smoking, high waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, family history
and hypertension duration. To reduce the burden of diabetes among hypertensive patients
such behaviors and modifiable biological factors should be controlled and modified.
