title: Poststroke hypertension in Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the frequency of hypertension and related knowledge in Africans who have had a stroke. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of hypertension, its control, and associated knowledge among patients with and without a history of stroke at Uganda's main referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with a history of stroke (n=157) were compared with stroke-free control subjects (n=149). Demographics and clinical characteristics were recorded and hypertension-related knowledge assessed by questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression including cases and control subjects was used to determine factors independently associated with blood pressure control and hypertension-related knowledge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 69.4% of cases versus 54.7% of control subjects were hypertensive at the time of the research visit (P=0.001). Univariable analyses showed the odds of having good blood pressure control (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.84; P=0.006) and good hypertension knowledge (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22-0.56; P<0.0001) were lower in cases. Age <40 years (P=0.002), good hypertension-related knowledge (P=0.002), and poorer medication adherence (P<0.0001) were independently associated with poorer blood pressure control. Those with a history of hypertension had better hypertension-related knowledge (P=0.001), but knowledge was poorer among cases (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension is common in Ugandans with and without a history of stroke. Barriers to effective blood pressure control in Uganda other than patient knowledge need to be identified.
authors.affiliation: Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaddumukasa
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ddumba
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Larry B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology