Abstract
Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the major risk factors of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to assess common complications, awareness hypertension complications (HTNC) and associated factors in hypertensive patients. Method: Cross-sectional survey was done on four hundred study participants at selected public hospitals in Arsi Zone (PHAZ) from March 10, 2019 to April 8, 2019. EpiData version 4.2.0.0 was used for data entry and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The level of good awareness towards HTNC in study participants was 32.5% [95% confidence interval (CI); 28.3, 37.0]). Secondary education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.95, 95% CI [2.33, 14.92]), higher education (AOR=4.37, 95% CI [2.57, 15.16]), employed (AOR=3.59, 95% CI [1.76, 17.77]), urban residents (AOR=1.68, 95% CI [1.47, 4.24]), monthly income of ≥ 3000 ETB (AOR=3.76, 95% CI [1.36, 10.43]), positive family history of HTN (AOR=2.14, 95% CI [1.92, 8.93]), duration of HTN > 10 years (AOR=2.41, 95% CI [1.81, 10.73]), health insurance (AOR=3.35, 95% CI [1.81, 10.48]), having comorbidities (AOR=1.73, 95% CI [1.55, 8.93]), non-smoker (AOR=1.72, 95% CI [1.35, 10.85]) and having regular health professional visit (AOR=8.20, 95% CI [5.31, 17.59]) were factors significantly associated with awareness of HTNC. Conclusion: Awareness of HTNC among the study participants was low. There is a need to initiate programs that could create public awareness about HTNC. Educational level, occupation, residency, monthly income, family history of hypertension, duration of hypertension, health insurance, presence of comorbidities, current smoking status, and regular healthcare professional visits were factors significantly associated with awareness of HTNC.