Determinants of Uncontrolled Hypertension Among Hypertensive Patients in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Background: Globally, hypertension is a major public health issue as well as one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases and deaths. To determine the risk factors of uncontrolled hypertension among adult hypertensive patients in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Data of 12 months (May, 2018–April, 2019) was collected from outpatients who visited Mirwais Regional Hospital and Sidal Hospital in Kandahar City. Results: Among 1050 hypertensive patients, 651/1050 (62.0%) were females, 636/1050 (60.6%) living in rural areas, 816/234 (77.7%) married, 723/1050 (68.9%) uneducated, 918/1050 (87.4%) overweight or obese, 459/1050 (43.7%) having family history of hypertension, and 786/1050 (74.9%) of the patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Mean age of the patients was 51 years. Binary logistic regression revealed that living in rural areas (AOR [Adjusted Odds Ratio] 3.0, p-value 0.004), sedentary lifestyle (AOR 3.7, p-value 0.002), and poor adherence to antihypertensive medications (AOR 4.4, p-value 0.003) were the statistically significant risk factors for the uncontrolled hypertension in these patients. Conclusion: Uncontrolled hypertension is a major threat for the hypertensive patients in Afghanistan. Better strategies for the control of hypertension are required in Afghanistan to reduce the burden of disease as a result of complications of uncontrolled hypertension.