A considerable proportion of cardiovascular events could be attributed to poor adherence to antihypertensive medications. Adverse effects can be severe enough to affect adherence to antihypertensive medications. This study aimed to measure the contribution of adverse effects on antihypertensive medications adherence. The study was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2017, at the ambulatory clinic of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH) in Gondar town. A binary logistic regression was performed to determine the significance of the association between adverse effects and adherence to antihypertensive medications. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a questionnaire to hypertensive patients who came for follow-up at the ambulatory clinic of UOGCSH. Level of adherence to antihypertensive medications was used as outcome measure. A total of 249 patients were included in the final analysis with a mean age of 56.51 years and a female majority (53%). The following variables were identified as predictors of poor adherence: tiredness [AOR (95% CI): 3.802 (1.723–8.391), p = 0.001], muscle pain [AOR (95% CI): 5.199 (1.407–19.214), p = 0.013], poor sleep [AOR (95% CI): 4.891 (1.578–15.160), p = 0.006] and, believing that the symptoms were caused by antihypertensive medications [AOR (95% CI): 3.249 (1.248–8.456), p = 0.016]. Adverse effect significantly contributes to antihypertensive medication non-adherence among hypertensive patients.

Background. Dysmenorrhea is an important health problem of adolescents in school, as well as health practitioners, that badly affects the daily activities and quality of life. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and assess its management practice among University of Gondar students. Methods. A cross-sectional study was done from April 06 to May 08, 2016, on female students of University of Gondar. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were used to describe and assess the association between different variables. Results. More than two-thirds (75.3%) of the respondents were nonmedical students and the prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 77.6%. About half (50.6%) of the participants reported that they have a family history of dysmenorrhea and experienced continuous type of pain (53%) which lasts 1-2 days (47.8%). Abdominal spasm (70.4%), back pain (69.7%) fatigue, and weakness (63.5%) were the most commonly experienced dysmenorrhea symptoms. More than half (63%) of the respondents had encountered social withdrawal and decrease in academic performance (51.4%). More than two-thirds (63.8%) of the respondents use home remedies as a primary management option. Ibuprofen and diclofenac were the most commonly used medications to manage dysmenorrhea. Conclusions. The present study revealed that high proportion of University of Gondar female students had dysmenorrhea. Findings suggest the need for educating adolescent girls on appropriate and effective management of dysmenorrhea.

Despite how much effect of low health literacy is on diabetic treatment cannot be accurate, it has an impact on controlling blood glucose level. Less is known about diabetic health literacy in Ethiopian diabetic patients which can affect patient medication adherence, self-care, and glycemic control. This study was aimed to assess the diabetic health literacy level and its association with glycemic control among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the outpatient clinic of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH): Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was employed at the outpatient clinic of the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from May, 1 –May 30, 2019. The comprehensive 15-items diabetic health literacy questions with a 5-point Likert scale used to measure diabetic health literacy. The mean score calculated and switched to the percentage (5 points as 100%) to determine the level of diabetic health literacy. Morisky Green Levine Scale 4 item adherence assessment tool was used to assess the diabetic patient's level of adherence. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between sociodemographic, clinical variables, diabetic-related literacy, and glycemic control. Independent samples t-test and One-way ANOVA test was employed to compare the mean literacy score difference in different groups. 400 respondents were included in the study. Of all the respondents, 17.3%, 26.3%, and 56.5% had low, medium and high diabetic-related health literacy, respectively. The proportions of patients with low, medium and high adherence to medication were 9.8%, 56.3%, and 34% respectively. Patients with high diabetes literacy are 1.85 times more likely to achieve target glycemic control than lower diabetic literacy patients with 95% CI Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR). 1.85(1.09–3.40). While patients with good adherence 1.61 times more likely to achieve target glycemic control than patients with low adherence; 95% CI AOR 1.61(1.04–4.79). Diabetic patients with morbidity have 67% less likelihood to achieve the target glycemic control; 95% CI AOR 0.33(0.15–0.73). Adequate diabetic health literacy and better glycemic control are highly correlated. Adjusting all variables; younger age, high diabetic health literacy and good adherence are associated with achieving the target glycemic control.

Globally, heart failure (HF) has been recognized as one of the major cardiovascular disorder with high morbidity, mortality and considerable social impact. In Sub Saharan African countries, HF has turned out as a leading form of cardiovascular diseases, and has considerable socioeconomic impact. However, there are differences in clinical characteristics and survival status among patients with preserved (HFpEF) and reduced (HFrEF) ejection fraction. The aim of this study is to outline the clinical characteristics and medication profile, assess the survival status and prognostic factors of Ethiopian HF patients with HFrEF and HFpEF. A retrospective cohort study was carried out and we employed medical records of patient’s, admitted as a result of HF to the University of Gondar Referral Hospital in the period between December 02, 2010 and December 01, 2015 due to HF. Kaplan Meier curve was used to analyze the survival status and log rank test was used to compare the curves. Cox regression was used to analyze independent predictors of mortality in all HF patients. Of the 850 patients who were admitted due to HF, 311 patients met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the patients had HFpEF (52.73%) and tend to be women (76.22%). They predominantly had etiologies of valvular and hypertensive heart diseases, and took calcium channel blockers and anticoagulants. Conversely, patients with HFrEF had etiologies of ischemic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy and were prescribed angiotensine converting inhibitors (ACEI) and beta blockers. Kaplan Meier curves and Log rank test (p = 0.807) showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mortality difference among patients with HFpEF and HFrEF. On the other hand, Cox regression analysis showed advanced age, lower sodium level, higher creatinine level and absence of medications like ACEI, spironolactone and statins independently predicted mortality in all HF patients. Different clinical characteristics were found in both groups of HF patients. There was no difference in survival outcome between patients with HFrEF and HFpEF.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), their clinical characteristics, and associated factors in the outpatient department of the chronic illness clinic of Gondar University Referral Hospital.
Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients on follow-up at the outpatient chronic illness clinic of the hospital from October 2010 to October 2015. The source population for the study included patients with a diagnosis of CVD whose medical records have the required socio-demographic information during the study period. The data were collected from August 2015 to December 2015. Chi-square and binary logistic regression tests were performed to test the significance of difference among predictive variables and CVDs. Results: Of 1105 patient medical records, 862 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The majority of the patients were females (65%) and living in urban areas (62.7%). Hypertension accounted for the majority (62.3%) of CVDs followed by heart failure (HF) (23.9%). Headache was the leading chief complaint among the patients (37.7%) upon diagnosis and was the prominent clinical feature in more than half of the patients during their course of follow-up. Higher proportions of dyslipidemia (85.7%), hypertension (72.8%), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) (73.2%) were associated with urban residency (P<0.01). Patients from rural areas (crude odds ratio [COR] =1.306 [95% confidence interval 1.026–2.166], adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.272 [95% confidence interval 1.017–2.030]) and those with comorbidity illnesses (COR= 1.813 [1.279–2.782], AOR =1.551 [95% confidence interval 1.177–2.705]) were more likely to have poor CVD outcome (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypertension was found to be the most frequent CVD followed by HF, and hypertensive heart disease was the leading cause of cardiac diseases. Most of the patients had improved assessment in the last follow-up, but patients from rural regions and those with comorbidty had higher likelihood of poor cardiovascular outcome.

Objective To assess older patients’ attitude towards deprescribing of inappropriate medications. Design This was an institutional-based, quantitative, cross-sectional survey. Setting Outpatient clinics of the University of Gondar Referral and Teaching Hospital in Ethiopia. Participants Patients aged 65 or older with at least one medication were enrolled in the study from 1 March to 30 June 2017. Excluded patients were those who had severe physical or psychological problems and who refused to participate. Main outcome measures Older patients’ attitude towards deprescribing was measured using a validated instrument, ‘the revised Patients’ Attitudes towards Deprescribing’ (rPATD) tool for older patients. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical data such as comorbidity and polypharmacy, and the main outcome was older patients’ willingness to deprescribe inappropriate medications. Results Of the 351 eligible participants, 316 patients completed the survey. Of the 316 patients, 54.7% were men and were taking a median of 3 (IQR: 2–4) medications daily. Overall, most of the participants (92.1%; 95% CI 89% to 95%) were satisfied with the medications they were taking; however, still a significant number of participants (81.6%; 95% CI 77% to 86%) were willing to stop one or more of their medications if possible and agreed by their doctors. This willingness was correlated with seven items of the rPATD, including a strong correlation with the overall satisfaction of patients with the medications taken. Conclusion Many older patients have shown their willingness to reduce one or more of their medications if their doctors said it was possible. Healthcare providers should be proactive in discussing and evaluating potentially inappropriate medications for better clinical decision making.