Prevalence rate of left ventricular hypertrophy and the burden of arrhythmias among hypertensive patients attending Jinja regional referral hospital, eastern Uganda.

In Uganda, hypertension is an escalating health issue, but there is limited specific data regarding the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) among hypertensive patients in eastern Uganda. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of LVH among hypertensive patients at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. A cross-sectional study conducted at the hospital enrolled 323 participants using convenience sampling. The results revealed a prevalence rate of 19.50 % for LVH, primarily observed in male participants and younger age groups (25-35 years). Furthermore, the study found a low incidence of associated cardiac arrhythmia, with only 1.59 % of participants having atrial fibrillation. These findings indicate a relatively low burden of LVH and arrhythmia in this population, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts in hypertension management and LVH prevention. Further research and interventions are necessary to mitigate the impact of hypertension-related complications in the eastern region of Uganda.

Prevalence rate of left ventricular hypertrophy and the burden of arrhythmias among hypertensive patients attending Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, eastern Uganda.

In Uganda, hypertension is a rapidly increasing non-communicable disease with high morbidity and mortality, leading to complications such as renal failure, heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarctions. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) among hypertensive patients at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 323 participants using convenience sampling, the study utilized structured questionnaires and data was analyzed using STATA. Results indicated that factors independently associated with LVH included alcohol consumption (aOR 0.26, 95%CI 0.10-0.70, P=0.007), lack of physical exercise (aOR 0.47, 95%CI 0.23-0.94, P=0.033), Low medication adherence (aOR 0.31, 95%CI 0.13-0.71, P=0.006)., female participants who had waist-hip-ratio >0.80 (aOR 3.70, 95%CI 1.18-11.64, P=0.025), diastolic blood pressure of 100 - 109 mmHg (aOR 4.58, 95%CI 1.65-12.74, P=0.004) and diastolic blood pressure of ≤89 mmHg (aOR 3.03, 95%CI 1.03-8.89, P=0.044). The study highlights the need for better management of hypertension and lifestyle modifications to reduce LVH prevalence.