BackgroundAdherence to antihypertensive medications is a key component to control blood pressure levels. Poor adherence to these medications leads to the development of hypertensive complications and increase risk of cardiovascular events which in turn reduces the ultimate clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to assess antihypertensive medication adherence and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients. A hospital-based cross-sectional study among adult hypertensive patients was conducted at hypertensive follow-up clinic of Jimma University Specialized Hospital from March 4, 2015 to April 3, 2015. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants from the study population. The study patients were interviewed and their medical charts were reviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Adherence was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) and MMAS-8 score less than 6 was considered as non-adherent and MMAS-8 score was ≥ 6 was declared as adherence. Factors associated with adherence were identified using binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Crude odds ratio, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval of the odds ratio were calculated using SPSS version 21. Variables with p-value less than 0.05 were assumed as statistically significant factors.ResultsAmong 280 hypertensive patients, 61.8% of the study participants were found to be adherent. More than half (53.2%) of the participants were males and the mean age of the participants was 55.0 ± 12.7 years. Co-morbidity (AOR = 0.083, 95% CI = 0.033–0.207, p < 0.001), alcohol intake (AOR = 0.011, 95% CI = 0.002–0.079, p < 0.001), getting medications freely (AOR = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.003–0.117, p < 0.001), and combination of antihypertensive medications (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.144–0.712, p < 0.005) were inversely associated with antihypertensive medication adherence.ConclusionThe adherence level to the prescribed antihypertensive medications was found to be sub-optimal according to the MMAS-8, and influenced by co morbidity, alcohol intake, self-purchasing of the medications and combination of antihypertensive medications.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3139-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the rate of glycemic control and factors affecting glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.ResultsA total of 174 type 2 diabetic patients were interviewed and were studied. Mean age of the patients was 48.98 ± 14.96 years (range 18–80 years). More than half (51.7%) of the patients were males. About a third of patients, 53 (30.5%), were on antidiabetic medications for less than 5 years. The most common prescribed antidiabetic medications were insulin, 48 (27.6%), and metformin 15 (8.6%). One hundred seven (61.5%) patients were on combination therapy (two drug treatment) and the remaining patients were on monotherapy. The majority, 103 (59.2%), of patients had uncontrolled blood glucose. A larger proportion of female patients, 54 (52.4%), had uncontrolled blood glucose than males. Level of education (p < 0.001) and duration of diabetes treatment (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with glycemic control. Adherence of patients to regular follow up (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.42, 95% CI 1.08–5.44, p = 0.03) and diabetes treatment for 5–10 years (AOR = 4.64, 95% CI 1.79–12.06, p = 0.002) are found to be independent predictors of glycemic control among type 2 diabetes patients.

BackgroundThe rate of blood pressure control among hypertensive patients is poor and the reasons for poor control of blood pressure remain poorly understood globally.ObjectiveTo assess the rate of blood pressure control among adult hypertensive patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a hospital based cross sectional study among adult hypertensive patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital hypertension clinic from March 4, 2015 to April 3, 2015. Data on sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and adherence to antihypertensive medication(s) were collected from patients by face to face interview using a pretested structured questionnaire. Comorbidities, antihypertensive medication(s) and blood pressure measurements were collected retrospectively from medical records. Medication adherence was assessed using Morisky’s Medication Adherence Scale-8 score. We did the statistical analysis using chi-square test and binary logistic regression with level of α set at 0.05. Statistical significance was considered for variables with p<0.05.ResultsOut of 311 participants, 286 patients were eligible and were studied. More than half, 154 (53.8%), of the participants were males. The mean age of the participants was 54.8± 12.6 years (range 26 to 94). The majority, 196 (68.53%), of the participants were taking more than one antihypertensive medication. More than one third (39.5%) of the participants were non adherent to their medication(s). The rate of blood pressure control was 50.3%. In a univariate logistic regression analyses, age ≥65 years old (P = 0.008), physical inactivity (p<0.001), chat chewing (P<0.001), adding salt to food (P<0.001), and coffee use (P<0.001) are significantly associated with uncontrolled blood pressureConclusionAlmost half of the hypertensive patients on follow up had uncontrolled blood pressure. We recommend better health education and care of patients to improve the rate of blood pressure control at the hospital.

BackgroundDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) commonly known as hyperglycemic emergencies are the two most common life-threatening acute metabolic complications of diabetes. The objective of this study is to assess predictors and treatment outcome of hyperglycemic emergencies (HEs) among diabetic patients admitted to Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH).MethodsIt is a three year retrospective review of medical records of patients admitted with HEs at JUSH. Patient demographics, admission clinical characteristics, precipitants, insulin used and treatment outcomes were extracted. Statistical analysis was done using student’s t test, Chi square test, and binary logistic regression with level of α set at 0.05. Statistical significance was considered for variables with p < 0.05.ResultsComplete data was available for 163 out of 421 patients admitted with HEs. The majority (62.6 %) were males. Mean age of patients was 36.6 ± 15.9 years. About 64 % of patients had type 1 diabetes. About 93 % of the participants developed DKA. The most common precipitants of HEs were infections 95 (59 %), non-compliance to medications 52 (32.3 %), and newly diagnosed diabetes 38 (23.6 %). Recurrent hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and ketonuria occurred in 88 (54 %), 34 (20.9 %) and 31 (20.5 %) patients respectively. Mean amount of insulin used and duration of treatment till resolution of DKA were 136.85 ± 152.41 units and 64.38 ± 76.34 h respectively. The median length of hospital stay was 6 days. Mortality from HEs was 16 (9.8 %). Admission serum creatinine >1.2 mg/dL (P = 0.018), co-morbidity (P < 0.001) and sepsis (P = 0.014) were independent predictors of HEs mortality.ConclusionsInfections, non-compliance and new onset diabetes were the most common precipitants of HEs. Length of hospital stay and mortality were high. High use of insulin, recurrent hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and ketonuria were common during HEs management. Elevated serum creatinine, sepsis and co-morbidity are independent predictors of HEs mortality.

BackgroundNon adherence of epileptic patients to antiepileptic medication often leads to an increased risk of seizures and worsening of disease, death and increased health care costs.Objectiveto assess adherence to treatment and factors affecting adherence of epileptic patients at Yirgalem General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia.Methods and MaterialsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on epileptic patients from February 9 to 22, 2015. Data were collected from patients ≥18 years old. Adherence was measured using the eight-item Morisky’s medication adherence scale. All consecutive patients coming to epilepsy clinic during the study period were interviewed until the calculated sample size (210) was obtained. We collected patient demographics, perception about epilepsy and adherence to medication(s). We used chi-square tests and a binary logistic regression model for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05.Resultsout of a total of 210 participants, 194 were willing to participate and were studied. Of the 194 participants, 109 (56.2%) were males. The mean age of the participants was 33.62±11.44 years; range 18 to 66 years. The majority, 123(63.41%), of the participants were taking two antiepileptic medications. Sixty two (32%) of the participants were adherent to their treatment. The most common reported reasons for non-adherence were forgetfulness 49(75.4%) and run out of pills 7(10.8%). Factors that affect medication adherence are epilepsy treatment for <1 year (P = 0.011), epilepsy treatment for 1–3 years (P = 0.002), epilepsy treatment for 3–5 years (P = 0.007), being married (P = 0.006), grade 9–12 education (P = 0.028), college or university education (P = 0.002) and absence of co-morbidity (P = 0.008).ConclusionsThe rate of adherence observed in this study was low. The most common reason for non- adherence was forgetfulness. Therefore, the hospital should devise strategies to improve adherence of epileptic patients at the hospital.