Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors amongst chronic psychiatric patients at Thabamoopo Hospital. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study which involved clinical record reviews of 287 patients. Most of the patients were male, single, unemployed with a secondary level of education. Schizophrenia, substance-related disorders, and Intellectual Disability Disorder were the most common psychiatric disorders. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 30,1%, with a strong association with older age, a longer duration of admission, schizophrenia, and being overweight. Diabetes mellitus prevalence was high (22.7%). Risperdal was the commonest antipsychotic prescribed, with olanzapine and clozapine being prescribed less. Sodium Valproate was the most prescribed non-antipsychotic medication. The conclusion is that the findings indicate that the association between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, older age, and long periods of admission indicate that interventions need to be put into place to address and minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension
