High rate of hypertension control among treated patients attending a teaching primary healthcare centre in Jordan.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the hypertension control rate and its associated factors among treated patients attending a teaching primary healthcare centre in Jordan. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 286 patients with HTN, treated with medications, who attended Jordan University of Science and Technology primary healthcare centre in Irbid, Jordan, from July through September 2018. Data were abstracted from the patient's medical records and personal interviews. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine independent factors associated with hypertension control. RESULTS: Blood pressure control rate was 90.9% and was significantly higher among patients who were married (p=0.02), with higher income level (p<0.01), non-smokers (p=0.01), free of diabetes mellitus or dyslipidaemia (p=0.048), highly consuming fruits and vegetables (p<0.01), non-obese (p<0.01), adherent to blood pressure medications (p=0.02) and among patients on lower number of antihypertensive medications (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis with adjusted OR of factors associated with hypertension control were higher fruit and vegetable intake (p<0.01), higher income level (p=0.02) and medication adherence (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Participants in this study achieved a relatively high rate of blood pressure control. Associated factors with this rate were higher fruit and vegetable intake, higher income level and medication adherence. For better hypertension control, patients should be advised to adhere to their medications and consume more fruits and vegetables besides other lifestyle changes.

Prevalence and Predictors of Thyroid Dysfunction Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and thyroid disorders are common endocrine disorders. This case-control study aims to determine the prevalence and predictors of thyroid disorders in T2DM patients. METHODS: A total of 998 T2DM patients attending a tertiary hospital were included and underwent investigations for thyroid function: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3); and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). They were compared with 343 non-diabetic subjects as controls. RESULTS: A total of 1341 participants were included in the study. The mean age ± SD was 60.14 ± 12.21, and 47.9% were females. Among T2DM patients, 140 (14%) were known to have thyroid disorders; and as a direct result of screening, 126 (12.6%) new cases of thyroid disorder were diagnosed. Thus, the overall prevalence of thyroid disorders was found to be 26.7% in T2DM patients which significantly higher than the controls (13.7%), (p˂0.001). Subclinical hypothyroidism was the most common one. Using logistic regression, after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, smoking, anemia, presence of goiter, disease duration, and poorly controlled, the risk factors for thyroid dysfunction among T2DM patients were an age of ≥50 years with an adjusted OR of 3.895 (95% CI 2.151-7.052, p<0.001); female gender (OR 1.757, 95% CI 1.123-2.747, p=0.013); goiter (OR 2.904, 95% CI 1.118-7.547, p=0.029), and HbA1c>7% (OR 2.553, 95% CI 1.472-4.429, p=0.001). However, there were no significant associations between thyroid disorders and complications or duration of diabetes (p>0.050). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of thyroid disorders was reported in T2DM patients. Therefore, we suggest that diabetic patients should be routinely screened for thyroid dysfunction. Old age, female gender, goiter, and poorly controlled diabetes found to be risk factors for thyroid dysfunction among T2DM patients. Consequently, appropriate management and control of diabetes may lower the risk of thyroid dysfunction and vice versa.