Background: Globally, hypertension is the most important public health issue and is a increasing health problem in Ethiopia. Blood pressure (BP) control is an ultimate therapeutic goal of hypertensive patients in reducing early complications of hypertension. Hence, this study was sought to examine the magnitude of uncontrolled BP, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and treatment practice. Predictors of uncontrolled BP and LVH were also investigated. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 223 outpatients with hypertension on follow-up at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (ACSH). Hypertensive patients with ≥18 years old who had been on follow-up care for at least 3 months were included in the study. Severely ill patients requiring urgent medical care and wheelchair-bound individuals or persons who had difficulty standing steady and pregnant women were excluded. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and patients' chart review. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. To identify predictors, binary logistic regression model analysis was performed. Statistical significance was set at P-value of < 0.05. Results: The magnitude of uncontrolled BP (>140/90mmgH) and LVH was found to be 31.4% and 39.5%, respectively. More than half (53%) of participants were on at least two antihypertensive drug combinations of different classes. Uncontrolled BP was significantly associated with poor adherence to salt reduction in meal (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =8.

Background Previous works show that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in developing nations, including Ethiopia, in the background of preexisting communicable diseases (CDs). Data on hospital admission in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce, particularly prospectively collected, and hence this study was done to close the gap in acquiring accurate diagnosis usually faced with retrospective data. We aimed to describe medical admission patterns, their outcomes and determinants at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (ACSH) in Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods Data were collected prospectively from November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018 for all medical admissions. Sociodemographic profiles, final diagnosis, outcome of hospitalization, and complications were recorded using a data-abstraction checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results There were 2084 medical admissions over 1 year. Median age was 45 years (IQR 31). A majority (1107, 53.1%) were male. The age-group 25–34 years had the most admissions (19.0%). NCDs constituted 68.2% of admissions. According to the International Classification of Diseases , patients were admitted most frequently due to disease of the circulatory system (36.7%) followed by infectious or parasitic diseases (24.1%). Of NCDs, cardiovascular diseases contributed to 53.9%, followed by cancers (8.6%). Of CDs, HIV/AIDS contributed to 31.3%, followed by tuberculosis (22.8%). A total of 1375 (66%) were discharged improved, while 311 (14.9%) died. On multivariate analysis, the in-hospital mortality was significantly higher (18.7%) for CDs than NCDs (13.2%, AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4–2.3; P <0.001). Bed occupancy of ACSH medical wards and ICU was 54%. Conclusion NCDs were leading causes of medical admissions in ACSH. The presence of CDs and the development of complications were associated with higher risk of death. Attention should be given by policy-makers to curb the higher morbidity from NCDs and mortality from CDs.

Background: A tragic and brutal war has been ongoing in Tigray, northern Ethiopia since November 2020. More than 70 % of health facilities had been dysfunctional. The condition of the hypertensive patients follow up/care and other non-communicable diseases is not studied since the war started.Methods: This study was conducted in six zones of Tigrai from July 03-to August 5, 2021. Health facilities were randomly selected and data on patient’s follow-up of pre-war period (September 2020-October 2020) as well as the subsequent 8 months war period (November 2020-June 2021). Data were collected using a check list. The number of patients who had visits during pre-war and the 8-month war period were compared to assess the impact of the war.Results: Pre-war and post war data from 46 health facilities in Tigray region (31 health centers, 9 primary hospitals and 6 general hospitals) was collected and analysed. There were 2565 average monthly hypertension visits to health facilities before war period which dropped to 1211 during the war period, a 52.7% reduction. There was reduction of hypertension visits across all health facilities; with health centres 51.2% and hospitals a 53.5% reduction. Eastern and north west zone health facilities had worst impact of the war as both showed >85% reduction in clinic visits. The impact of the war was highest in rural areas especially remote areas than urban areas. There was no available data from western Tigray zone and some other zones’ health centres and hospitals due to war destructions. The impact of the war on hypertensive patients could even be higher in these areas.Conclusion: Due to the war, the care of hypertension had significantly decreased in Tigray. Reduction in the number of hypertensive patients follow up visits and hence care would lead to an increase in short and long-term morbidity/mortality from stroke, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure and sudden cardiac death among other consequences. We recommend humanitarian/development agencies and other organizations to consider morbidity from hypertension and all other chronic non-communicable diseases when planning.