Prevalence and Associated Factors of Pre-Hypertension Among Adults Visiting the Outpatient Department at Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia, 2021.

Abstract Background: Prehypertension is a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120-139 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80-89 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) According to JNC-7 report the new added category. It is considered as a starting point for cardiovascular and many other morbidities. Little is known about the magnitude of prehypertension and its associated factors in study area. Objective: To assess prevalence of Pre-hypertension and Associated factor among adults visiting the Outpatient department at Mizan Tepi university teaching hospital, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia, 2021.Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted in Mizan Tepi University Teaching hospital. Simple random sampling method was used to recruit study participants. Data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for data analysis. The descriptive analysis of data was done and the result presented using frequency tables and graphs. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) at 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05 were estimated to determine statistically significant association between predictors and outcome variable.Result: The prevalence of Prehypertension among adults visiting the Outpatient department at Mizan Tepi university teaching hospital was 30.7%. Significant association of prehypertension was found with age (AOR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.69, 2.15), educational status (AOR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.11, 1.00), physical exercise (AR=1.11, 95% CI: 0.57, 2.16) and Body Mass Index (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 0.44, 39.34). Conclusion: Pre-Hypertension is high in the study area. As a result, concerned body should take action to enhance patients visiting Mizan Tepi University Teaching hospital about impact of Pre-Hypertension on individual health and how to control it.