High blood pressure prevalence, awareness, treatment, and blood pressure control among Ugandans with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders

by Winnie Kibone, Felix Bongomin, Jerom Okot, Angel Lisa Nansubuga, Lincoln Abraham Tentena, Edbert Bagasha Nuwamanya, Titus Winyi, Whitney Balirwa, Sarah Kiguli, Joseph Baruch Baluku, Anthony Makhoba, Mark Kaddumukasa

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs) are associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with hypertension being the most common. We aimed to determine the prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP), awareness, treatment, and blood pressure control among patients with RMDs seen in a Rheumatology clinic in Uganda.

We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Rheumatology Clinic of Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH), Kampala, Uganda. Socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and anthropometric data were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using STATA 16 to determine factors associated with HBP in patients with RMDs.

A total of 100 participants were enrolled. Of these, majority were female (84%, n = 84) with mean age of 52.1 (standard deviation: 13.8) years and median body mass index of 28 kg/m² (interquartile range (IQR): 24.8 kg/m²–32.9 kg/m²). The prevalence of HBP was 61% (n = 61, 95% CI: 51.5–70.5), with the majority (77%, n = 47, 95% CI: 66.5–87.6) being aware they had HTN. The prevalence of HTN was 47% (n = 47, 37.2–56.8), and none had it under control. Factors independently associated with HBP were age 46-55years (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–5.95), 56–65 years (aPR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.09–6.15), >65 years (aPR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.02–6.00), obesity (aPR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.79–7.52), overweight (aPR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.29–5.77).

There was a high burden of HBP among people with RMDs in Uganda with poor blood pressure control, associated with high BMI and increasing age. There is a need for further assessment of the RMD specific drivers of HBP and meticulous follow up of patients with RMDs.