Hypertension remains poorly controlled in Palestine. Improvement of its management will re-quirean understanding of the patient characteristics and treatment factors associated with uncon-trolled hypertension. A cross-sectional analysis

using data from prevalence of hypertension study

in West Bank (N=2077) using two-stage stratifie

d sampling method. We studied antihypertensive

medication use, comorbidity, and blood pressure measurements for 573 hypertensive patients in 3

different primary care settings across Palestine.

We concomitantly conduc

ted comprehensive pa-

tient interviews covering demogra

phic and clinical factors. Mean age of the patients was 57.5 ± SD

9.7 years. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were

149±12 mm Hg and 91.2±9 mm Hg (respectively). Only 33.2% (190/573) of patients had mean

blood pressure < 140/90 mm Hg during the study pe

riod. Those who are "uncontrolled" had high

systolic blood pressure rather than diastolic pr

essure (59 vs 41%; P<0.01)

. 60% of uncontrolled

hypertension found to be non-adherent to their dr

ug regimen, 28% experience adverse effects and

56% were found to be on monotherapy. There was no

statistically significant in difference in sex

distribution, marital status and educational leve

l between controlled and

uncontrolled hypertension.

Multivariate analysis revealed several independent

predictors of poor hypertension control; being

on monotherapy regimen [OR=2.14, 95% CI 1.51-

2.59], being obese BMI >25 [OR=1.80, 95% CI

1.44-2.46], being non adherence to antihypertensiv

e drugs [OR=2.67, 95% CI 2.34-3.11] and older

age > 65 [OR=2.12, 95% CI1.78-2.86]. Hypertension remains poorly controlled in clinical Practice

in West Bank. Physicians should aggressively treat

elevated systolic BP. A number of factors con-

tribute to poor control of hypertension including

Non-adherence to drug regimens, frustration with

treatment and obesity. Further identification of patients at risk of poor control can lead to targeted

interventions to improve management.