title: Factors associated with blood pressure control amongst adults with hypertension in Yaounde, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Improvement of its management to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes will require an understanding of the patient characteristics and treatment factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure. Factors that affect blood pressure control have not been sufficiently described in Cameroon. The main goal of our study was to determine the predictors of blood pressure control in patients with hypertension in an urban city in Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was descriptive cross-sectional study from five outpatient hypertension consultation units in Hospitals in Yaoundé. Controlled hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≤140/90 mmHg. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with blood pressure control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 440 patients enrolled in the survey, 280 (63.6%) were females. The mean age was 61 (SD ±11) years. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 147 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 88 mmHg. Only 36.8% of patients had their mean blood pressure controlled (BP ≤140/90 mmHg). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed good adherence to anti-hypertensive medications (OR= 3.99; 95% CI: 2.20-7.23; P<0.000) and dietary lifestyle changes (OR =1.5; 95% CI: 0.53-2.49; P=0.031) to be factors independently associated with controlled hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only one out of three patients has their blood pressure controlled. The results of our study suggest that good adherence to treatment are important factors for tight blood pressure control in primary care. Further identification of patients at risk of non-adherence to treatment and poor blood pressure control can lead to targeted interventions to reduce hypertension related morbidity and mortality in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon;
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menanga
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edie
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Clovis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nkoke
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boombhi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Ahmadou Jingi
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: Liliane Kuate
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Mfeukeu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon;
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kingue
keywords: Cameroon; Hypertension; blood pressure control