title: Statin therapy reduces the likelihood of suboptimal blood pressure control among Ugandan adult diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is one of the recognized risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in adult diabetic patients. High prevalence of suboptimal blood pressure (BP) control has been well documented in the majority of studies assessing BP control in diabetic patients in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, there is a dearth of similar studies. This study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of suboptimal BP control in an adult diabetic population in Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 425 eligible ambulatory adult diabetic patients attending three urban diabetic outpatient clinics over 11 months. Data about their sociodemographic characteristics and clinical history were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. Suboptimal BP control was defined according to the 2015 American Diabetes Association standards of diabetes care guideline as BP levels ≥140/90 mmHg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study participants was 52.2±14.4 years, with the majority being females (283, 66.9%). Suboptimal BP control was documented in 192 (45.3%) study participants and was independently associated with the study site (private hospitals; odds ratio 2.01, 95% confidence interval 1.18-3.43,P=0.01) and use of statin therapy (odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.96,P=0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suboptimal BP control was highly prevalent in this study population. Strategies to improve optimal BP control, especially in the private hospitals, and the use of statin therapy should be encouraged in adult diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Diabetes/Endocrine Unit, Mengo Hospital.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lumu
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Research Collaboration.
authors.forename: Leaticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kampiire
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation.
authors.forename: George Patrick
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Akabwai
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit, Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital.
authors.forename: Daniel Ssekikubo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kiggundu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Uganda Martyrs Hospital Lubaga, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kibirige
keywords: Uganda; diabetic; statin therapy; suboptimal blood pressure control