Hypertension and related risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Gaborone City Council (GCC) clinics, Gaborone, Botswana.

Introduction: This cross sectional study was done in Gaborone City Council clinics in Botswana. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and related cardiovascular risk factors among DM patients. Methods: A total of 401 patients were included in a cross sectional study during a three-month period between December 1, 2003 and February 28, 2004. Results: During the study it was found out that 61.2%of DM patients had hypertension, 56.4% obesity, 33.5% hypercholesterolemia and 38.9% hypertriglyceredemia. In the study, hypertension was associated with age, sex, type of DM, body mass index (BMI) and hypertriglyceredemia. Conclusion: The study found out that most of DM patients suffer from co-existing hypertension and related cardiovascular risk factors.