Hypertension and Its Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high risk of early mortality and morbidity from hypertension. Even though Ethiopia is Africa’s first country among the top five in the prevalence of DM, there is a paucity of data on hypertension and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital, 2019. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed on 378 T2DM patients. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed by Stata 14. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify associated factors of hypertension among T2DM patients. Associated factors were declared at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension among T2DM patients was 59.5% (95% CI: 54.5–64.5). Stage 1 hypertension was the most common (30.95%). The odds of hypertension was higher among age group of 50–60 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.27–4.90)), patients from urban area (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI (1.08–7.18)), with longer duration of T2DM (AOR =1.16, 95% CI (1.08–1.25)), with BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI (1.71–5.96)), with poor glycemic control (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI (1.75–5.19)), and patients who were current cigarette smokers (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI (1.98–14.96)). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension is high and the majority have poor blood pressure control. Hence, DM care providers and other health sector stakeholders have to work in collaboration to prevent it through designing appropriate strategies especially for those at higher risk of developing hypertension.