The Burden of Hypertension and Associated Factors Among Adults Visiting the Adult Outpatient Department at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a global health concern that can lead to cardiovascular disease and death. In Ethiopia, the risks for cardiovascular disease have been increasing dramatically. But due to the high burden of communicable diseases, less emphasis is given to non-communicable diseases like hypertension. This study aimed to fill the information gap by determining the prevalence and the key determinants of hypertension in the study area. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September to October 2016. A total of 414 adults visiting medical OPDs were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected by blood pressure measurements and a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. The goodness of fit of the model was also checked by Hosmer and Lemeshow test. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension in the study area was 38.9% (95% CI: 34.1–43.7). Age above 55 years (AOR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.88–5.90), family history of hypertension (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.37–5.36), diabetes (AOR = 4.15, 95% CI 1.77–9.72), obesity (AOR = 5.50, 95% CI: 2.07–14.62), knee arthritis (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.36), and not walking at least for 10 minutes continuously on daily basis (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.15 −7.12) were found to be independent predictors of hypertension. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of hypertension was high in the study area, and a large proportion of them were also newly diagnosed. Factors like age, family history of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, knee arthritis, and exercise were found to be independent predictors of hypertension. Therefore, we recommend people who have these risk factors to have screening for hypertension.