Quality of Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients Attending the Kigali University Teaching Hospital; Rwanda

ABSTRACT

Background: Kigali university teaching hospital (KUTH) is one of the referral hospitals that receive patients from all over the country. Hypertension is among others; an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases and a significant public health problem. We investigated the proportion of treated hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. Objective: To determine the adequacy of blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients and to investigate the burden of other cardiovascular risk factors and related cardiovascular diseases. Methods: From 1st July 2009 to 31st March 2010; 150 patients - after their informed consent to participate in the study - were included in our cross-sectional and descriptive study. We collected data on socio-demographic features; weight and height; cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases. We also investigated the patients' awareness of the disease and their compliance to treatment. Blood pressure values were recorded; as well as the duration of hypertension; the number of antihypertensive drugs used; and the compliance to treatment. Based on the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension and the JNC-7; BP were considered controlled at a level below 140/90 mm Hg; and in diabetics if the systolic BP 5(sBP) 130 mmHg and the diastolic BP (dBP) 80 mmHg. Data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0; Pearson Chi-Square test; and the Fisher's exact test. The statistical significant difference was considered at p 0.05. Odds Ratio with 95 CI.Results: 150 patients with Hypertension were enrolled; including 56 women and 44 men; sex-ratio (F/M)