Factors associated with the occurrence of hypertension and dyslipidemia among diabetic patients attending the diabetes clinic of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The burden of diabetes mellitus is becoming a serious health issue in Ethiopia. Co-occurrence of hypertension and dyslipidemia with diabetes mellitus is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality among diabetes mellitus patients. However, there is paucity of data on the factors associated with the burden of hypertension and dyslipidemia among diabetes patients in Ethiopia.
Objective: Investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of hypertension and dyslipidemia among diabetic patients attending the diabetes clinic of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Methods: The study was conducted on patients with diabetes mellitus attending the diabetes clinic of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. A retrospective hospital based record review was conducted to collect data from patient cards who had follow up in the diabetic clinic of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Among the relevant data reviewed were anthropometric measurements such as height and weight, body mass index, laboratory estimation of triglycerides, total cholesterol and fasting blood sugar and blood pressure measurements. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used for data analysis using SPSS version 16 software. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: Among 421 patients, 136(32.3%) had hypertension and eighty-nine (65.4%) of them were on antihypertensive medications. Prevalence of dyslipidemia was 50(11.9%). Thirty-seven (8.8%) of the diabetic patients were on both anti-hypertensive and lipid lowering agents. Regardless of the frequent follow up, the fasting blood glucose level of the diabetic patients remained uncontrolled. Hypertriglyceridemia was more common in diabetic patients than increased total cholesterol. Increased age ((AOR 41 – 50 years = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.07, 3.98; (AOR 51 – 60 years = 2.3, 95%CI: 1.2, 4.5)), BMI ((AOR overweight = 2.9, 95%CI: 1.2, 6.99; (AOR obese = 6.6, 95%CI: 1.8, 24.7)) and high triglyceride level (AOR 4.2, 95%CI: 2.6, 6.8) were found to have an impact on the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. While only duration of diabetes (AOR 0.3, 95%CI: 0.14, 0.88) was associated with the coexistence of dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion and recommendation: Raised blood pressure and dyslipidemia were common occurrences among diabetic patients from Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle. Hypertension and dyslipidemia should be given due attention in diabetes mellitus patients, especially in old patients, obese patients and those who have high triglyceride levels. Thus, diabetic patients should be treated based on the blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid control goals.Having regular follow up alone has no practical significance and hence diabetes programs should be integrated with hypertension and dyslipidemia programs.