Determinants of Hypertension Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Hypertension is the persistent rise of systemic arterial blood pressure. Among diabetic patients, hypertension is one of the important public health challenges. The frequency of hypertension among diabetic patients is almost twice than that of non-diabetic patients. This study aims to determine the determinants of hypertension among type 2 diabetes patients in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in diabetic clinics of a tertiary care hospital from August 2020 to August 2021. The source population included all adult patients with type 2 diabetes at the follow-up clinic of Liaquat National Hospital and Aga Khan Hospital. Data collection was done using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. REDCap software (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN) was used for the data collection. Results: A total of 610 patients were included in the study. The mean age of participants was 57.37 (+/- 11.32) years. The overall prevalence of hypertension among diabetic patients was 39.84%. Age, physical activity, family history of hypertension, smoking status, BMI, sedentary lifestyle, stress level, and serum creatinine were independent determinants of hypertension among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: In this study, age, physical activity, family history of hypertension, smoking status, BMI, sedentary lifestyle, stress level, and serum creatinine are independent determinants of hypertension among type 2 diabetes patients. The findings of the study call for strategies that can target these predictors, and clinicians need to start educating their patients about hypertension and ways to prevent it.