Integrated Blood Pressure Control (Oct 2021)
Orthostatic Hypotension in Male Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia
Abstract
Ayechew Adera Getu,1 Deribew Abebaw Abuhay,2 Bahiru Tenaw Goshu3 1Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara, Ethiopia; 2Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Amhara, Ethiopia; 3Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Amhara, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Ayechew Adera Getu Tel +251-91-086-6216Email ayechew.adera@uog.edu.etBackground: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 20 mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 10 mmHg within 3 minutes of standing. OH incidence is increased with hypertension, and management of these patients may pose challenges, as treatment of one can worsen the other.Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of OH and its associated factors among male hypertensive patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional design was employed. Seated BP was measured twice and the average of the two taken. After BP had been stabilized for 5 minutes, SBP within 3 minutes of standing was measured twice and the minimum of the two taken. A drop of ≥ 20 mmHg in SBP within 3 minutes of standing was taken as OH. All male hypertensive patients who were able to attain a standing position were included. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical status of the patients were taken using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 21. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were done. P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The median age of study participants was 57 (25– 96) years. The prevalence of OH was 17.6%. Uncontrolled hypertension (adjusted OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.125– 3.872) and duration of hypertension ≥ 5 years (adjusted OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.069– 3.895) were significantly associated with OH in hypertensive patients.Conclusion: The prevalence of OH among male hypertensive patients was high. Hypertensive patients whose BP was uncontrolled and having had hypertension ≥ 5 years were risk factors of OH.Keywords: orthostatic hypotension, hypertension, prevalence, Ethiopia