Abstract
BACKGROUND: Achieving target blood glucose in type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension remains a challenge despite the availability of different classes of drugs to treat these conditions. OBJECTIVE: to assess the level of glycemic control and identify associated factors among ambulatory type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension co-morbidity. METHODS: We conducted a hospital based cross-sectional study from April 4 to May 11, 2016 among ambulatory type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension comorbidity at Jimma University Medical Center. We collected data on patient demographics, diabetes complications, and treatments using pretested questionnaire and data extraction format from a total of 300 eligible patients. We included consecutive patients that visited the hospital during the study period. We performed statistical analysis using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression analyses were done to identify the factors associated with poor glycemic control. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The majority of patients (60%) had poor glycemic control. The mean (SD) fasting blood glucose level over three consecutive months was 152.5 (65.7) mg/dl. Factors associated with poor glycemic control were age 41-60 years (AOR = 3.05, 95%CI: 1.20-7.77), age older than 60 years (AOR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.01-6.80), presence of drug related problems (AOR = 2.29, 95%CI: 1.20-4.39), and low adherence to medications (AOR = 4.26, 95%CI: 1.70-10.65). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of poor glycemic control among ambulatory type 2 diabetes patients with hypertension comorbidity was high.