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
