THE ASSOCIATION OF STATIN THERAPY WITH BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG HYPERTENSIVE OUTPATIENTS AT FELEGE HIWOT COMPREHENSIVE AND SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA, 2020

Abstract

Abstract Background: Previous studies have suggested that the lipid-lowering agents, statins, can improve blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. But so far no study had investigated statins association with blood pressure control in real clinical practice in Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed to assess the association of statin therapy with blood pressure control among hypertensive outpatients at Felege Hiwot Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia, 2020. Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from June 22/ 2020 to August 21/ 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was employed. Data were entered in to Epi-Data version 4.2 and exported to statistical packages for social sciences version 21 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were computed. A chi square test and independent t test were computed for group comparison. Logistic regression model was employed to determine the association between statin use and blood pressure control. Result: Among the 404 hypertensive patients included in the study 50% were taking a prescribed statin and included in the statin group whereas the remaining participants were not taking a statin and were included in the control group. After three month of treatment with statins blood pressure control <130/80 was significantly higher (P = 0.022) in the statin group (52.5%) when compared with the control group (41.0%). Statin therapy increases the likelihood of having the blood pressure controlled 1.58 times when compared to statin non-users. After controlling for possible confounders statin therapy still increased the odds of having controlled blood pressure by a factor of 5.98 [odds ratio 5.986; 95 % confidence interval 2.773 - 12.922] indicating that, use of statin among hypertensive patients was significantly associated with controlled blood pressure. Conclusion: The current finding suggest that among hypertensive patients in a clinical practice setting in whom the prescription of a statin is simultaneously indicated; statin can improve blood pressure control and reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It is recommended to encourage future researchers to explore the role of statins and other coadministered drugs that help to reduce HTN-related morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Blood pressure control, Statin, Hypertension, Felege Hiwot Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia