Female Sex, Lower Waist Circumference, Statin, and Calcium Channel Blocker Use Are Associated With Reduced Odds of Uncontrolled Hypertension: A Population-Based Study

Background

The lack of control of hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and its associated risk factors among the registered population of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) Kavar cohort study.

Methods

The analysis included patients with diagnosed hypertension who were taking antihypertensive drugs during the baseline phase of the Kavar cohort study. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg.

Results

Among the 755 patients included in the study (36% male), 275 subjects (36.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 33.0–40.0) had uncontrolled hypertension. Multivariable regression analysis showed that female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31–0.60, p value < 0.001), statin use (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50–0.96, p value = 0.025), and calcium channel blocker (CCB) intake (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47–0.92, p value = 0.013) were associated with decreased odds of uncontrolled hypertension. In addition, a waist circumference elevation was found to be significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08, p value = 0.004).

Conclusions

Despite receiving antihypertensive therapy, approximately 36% of the study population had uncontrolled hypertension. Female patients and those taking statins and CCBs had a reduced likelihood of experiencing uncontrolled hypertension, while an increased waist circumference was associated with higher odds of uncontrolled hypertension.