ASSOCIATION OF CHRONIC KHAT CHEWING AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG ADULTS IN WEST HARARGHE ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Khat chewing was a significant public health problem and it became a widespread practice among adults in Ethiopia. The Khat plant contains amphetamine like compounds, which implied in the advancement of high blood pressure. The raised in blood pressure related with the plasma Cathinone level. Chronic chewing Khat was associated with adverse health anomalies effect such, high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorder, insomnia, liver toxicity, oral cancer spermatorrhoea, and hemorrhoid, loss of appetite and gastrointestinal effect. Other factors may associated with high blood pressure are being cigarette smoking, alcohol use, stress, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, overweight and obesity. So, this study assessed the association of chronic Khat chewing and high blood pressure among adults. Objective:-The aim of this study is to determine the association of chronic Khat chewing and high blood pressure among adults 18 years and above at community level from December 21, 2021 to March 30, 2022 in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Method: - Community based comparative cross-sectional study were-held from December 21, 2021 to March 30, 2022 in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 772 adults (386 chewers and 386 non-chewers) aged 18 years and above were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. The data collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire and physical measurements carried out at a fixed time of the day in the morning (7: 30 am-10:30 am). The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics used to summarize socio-demographic and other related characteristics of the study unit. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression for potential cofounder and binary logistic regression analysis performed to identify the association of chronic khat chewing and high blood pressure. The test of statistically significant association declared by using 95% CI and p-value less than 0.05 using logistic regression analysis. Result: -A 772 subjects participated in the study giving a response rate of 100%. From the total study participants, 453(58.7%) were males with 280 Khat chewers and 173 non-chewers, were as 319 (41.3%) female with 106 Khat chewers and 213 non-chewer. This study revealed that, diastolic blood pressure greater than 80mmHg was significantly higher among chronic Khat chewers than in non-chewers 202 (52.33% versus 121(31.35%) p<0.001).The mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher among Khat chewer compared with non-chewers (2.66 ±0.19 versus 2.30 ±0.19, mean difference 0.36 [95% CI 0.46, 0.27] p<0.001). Similarly, the mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher among Khat chewers compared with non chewers (2.65 ±0.21 versus 2.32 ±0.21, mean difference 0.33 [95% CI 0.43, 0.22], and p < 0.001).Chronic Khat chewing had 2.94 times higher risk of developing high blood pressure than non-chewers (AOR: 2.94, 95% CI: 2.17, 3.98). xiv Conclusion:-The overall prevalence of high blood pressure in this study was 52.7%. The finding of this study revealed that chronic Khat chewers were associated with elevated BP.