Determinants of visit-to-visit systolic blood pressure variability among Ghanaians with hypertension and diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To identify the determinants of systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) among Ghanaians.Design: We undertook a secondary analysis of data collected in a prospective studySetting: The study involved patients with hypertension and or diabetes receiving care in five hospitals in GhanaMain outcome measures: We assessed determinants of SBPV among 2,785 Ghanaian patients. We calculated the standard deviation (SD) of systolic BP recordings of 3 to 10 visits per patient over 18 months as a measure of SBPV. A multivariate linear regression analysis was fitted to identify factors independently associated with risk visit-to-visit SBP standard deviation.Results: The mean SD of individual patient visit-to-visit SBP overall was 14.8± 6.3 mm Hg. Those with hypertension and diabetes had the highest SD of 15.4 ±6.2 mm Hg followed by 15.2 ±6.5 mm Hg among those with hypertension only and then 12.0 ± 5.2 mm Hg among those with diabetes only, p<0.0001. Factors independently associated with SBPV with adjusted ß coefficients (95% CI) included age: 0.06 (0.03 – 0.08) for each year rise in age, eGFR -0.03 (-0.05 - -0.02) for each ml/min rise, low monthly income of <210 Ghana cedis 1.45 (0.43-2.46), and secondary level of education -1.10 (-1.69, -0.50). Antihypertensive classes were associated with SBPV, the strongest associations being hydralazine 2.35 (0.03 – 4.68) and Methyldopa 3.08 (2.39 – 3.77).Conclusion: Several socio-demographic and clinical factors are associated with SBPV. Future studies should assess the contribution of SBPV to CVD outcomes among indigenous Africans and identify actionable targets.