Periodontal Diseases Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Patients With Hypertension: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Two Hospitals in the West Region (Cameroon)

Abstract

Background: Hypertension affects a large proportion of the world’s population. There is a bidirectional association between hypertension and periodontal disease (PD). This study aimed to assess the oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients living with hypertension followed up at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (BRH) and the Dschang Regional Annex Hospital (DRAH). Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024 in two tertiary health facilities of the west Cameroon region, targeting hypertensive outpatients or followed up in cardiology and internal medicine who meet the inclusion criteria. Consecutive sampling was used to collect sociodemographic data, past history, and oral health KAP via a face‐to‐face questionnaire and medical records. The KAP were analyzed using the Essi and Njoya grid. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with poor KAP ( p < 0.05). Results: A total of 367 people (143 males) with a median age of 62 years (IQR 53‐70) were recruited. The median duration of hypertension was 5 years (IQR 2‐10). Almost all participants (91.8%) had poor knowledge, 58.6% had harmful attitudes and 67.6% had inadequate practices. Living in an urban area (aOR: 0.43 [95% CI 0.19‐0.97]; p = 0.042) was negatively associated with poor knowledge. Recently diagnosed hypertension (aOR: 1.74 [95% CI 1.11‐2.76]; p = 0.015) and poor knowledge (aOR: 3.50 [95% CI 1.55‐7.92]; p = 0.003) were positively associated with harmful attitudes. Primary education (aOR: 1.32 [95% CI 1.05‐2.676]; p = 0.042) and low monthly income (aOR: 1.50 [95% CI 1.02‐3.14]; p = 0.046) were positively associated with harmful practices. Conclusion: Most participants had insufficient knowledge of oral health and adopted harmful practices. Highlighting the need for carers and decision‐makers to raise awareness and educate hypertensive patients about the relationship between their disease and oral health using the associated factors identified.