Uncontrolled blood pressure in patients with hypertension and associated factors: The role of low health literacy

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure, associated factors and evaluate whether or not low health literacy (HL) is a risk factor. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 556 patients who met the inclusion criteria, and were aged 18 years or above. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form prepared by the researchers, Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q). In the analysis, descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: In the study uncontrolled blood pressure prevalence was 69.8%. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis uncontrolled blood pressure was higher in those who were aged 65 years and over (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12-2.78), had primary and lower education (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.41-2.71), had any comorbidity (OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.42-3.11), were current smokers (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.35-3.11), overweight/obese (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.64-3.17), had no medication adherence (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.94-3.32), and had low health literacy (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.34-2.94). Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that nearly three out of four patients receiving treatment had the uncontrolled blood pressure. Smoking, overweight/obesity, nonadherence to medical treatment, and low health literacy were alterable risk factors for uncontrolled blood pressure.