Abstract:
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension among adult type 2 diabetic
patients and to identify risk factors that may affect the development of hypertension in those
patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to June 2016 in Jimma
University Medical Center (JUMC) diabetes follow-up clinic in Jimma, Ethiopia. A total of 301
diabetic type 2 patients were included in this study .Data was obtained directly from patients
through interview and review of their medical files. Simple random sampling was used for the
selection of study participants. Data was checked for completeness and entered into SPSS 21 for
descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.
Descriptive statistics were used to describe findings. A bivariate analysis was run to sort variables
candidate for multiple logistic regression having value less or equals to 0.2. Multiple logistic
regression analyses was conducted to identify factors independently associated with the dependent
variable. Finally, association was declared with P-value less than 0.05.
Results: In our study, prevalence of hypertension was noted in 170 (56.5%) patients. Hypertension
was present in 61 (53%) females and 109 (59%) males. Majority of hypertensive patients,
130(76.5%) were 50 to 69 years old. Family history of hypertension was present in 29(17.1%) of
hypertensive patients and only in 6(4.6%) of non-hypertensive patients. Obesity was present
34(20%) of hypertensives whereas only 1(0.8%) of them was normotensive. Overweight on the
other hand, was present in 50.6% of hypertensives and in 30.5% of non-hypertensives.
Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension in patients with DM in this study very high.
Abnormal BMI, reflected by both obesity and overweight was the most common modifiable risk
factor identified along with age and family history of hypertension. Therefore, addressing obesity
and overweight through life style modification, dietary advice and medical therapies should be
undertaken. Enforcing measures for detecting and managing hypertension in patients with diabetes
is the most effective things that can be done to prevent adverse events. Hence, intervention
measures should be undertaken and earlier more aggressive blood pressure control are likely to
offer the greatest promise for reducing the incidence of complications and its associated mortality.
