Clinical Ophthalmology (Oct 2023)

Visual Impairment and Its Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia

  • Ashenef B,
  • Diress M,
  • Yeshaw Y,
  • Dagnew B,
  • Gela YY,
  • Akalu Y,
  • Abdurahman A,
  • Abebaw K

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 3149 – 3161

Abstract

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Baye Ashenef,1 Mengistie Diress,2 Yigizie Yeshaw,2 Baye Dagnew,2 Yibeltal Yismaw Gela,2 Yonas Akalu,2 Abdulhenan Abdurahman,3 Kassa Abebaw1 1Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia; 2Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Baye Ashenef, Email [email protected]: Visual impairment is one of the most common long-term effects of high blood pressure. It affects one’s quality of life, independence, and mobility. There is a paucity of information regarding the prevalence of visual impairment due to hypertension in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in referral hospitals of the Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2021.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 study participants, which were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and physical measurements. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6. Then, exported into SPSS Version 26 for analysis. The crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% Confidence intervals were calculated. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Variables with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 were stated as significantly associated with visual impairment.Results: The overall prevalence of visual impairment among hypertensive patients was 32.4% (95% CI: 27.9– 37.9). Duration of hypertension ≥ 5 years (AOR =3.06, 95% CI: 1.86– 4.95), history of ocular trauma (AOR =2.50, 95% CI: 1.3– 4.73), and ever alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.32– 5.62) were significantly associated with visual impairment.Conclusion: Nearly one-third of hypertensive patients were visually impaired from the study participants. Duration of hypertension ≥ 5 years, history of ocular trauma, and ever alcohol drinking was significantly associated with visual impairment among hypertensive patients. Therefore, in addition to providing medical care and follow-up services for hypertension patients, health education is needed for early and proper management of visual impairment, and to decrease their level of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, better to do this study by prospective cohort study design to identify cause-and-effect relationships.Keywords: visual impairment, visual acuity, hypertension, Ethiopia

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