Workineh Getahun|Teferi Gedif Fenta|Fikru Tesfaye
Regular Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure among adults in Butajira, Ethiopia: A comparative study
Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University
fresh leaves buds khat plant catha edulis contain cathinone amphetamine like alkaloid responsible pharmacological action chewing khat associated transient rise blood pressure heart rate experimental studies studies examined effect regular frequent khat chewing blood pressure population level study conducted examine association regular khat chewing blood pressure among adultswe compared systolic diastolic blood pressure adults 3565 years age reported regular chewing khat preceding five years never chewed khat period study participants recruited purposively selected urban rural villages butajira district ethiopia comparative groups chewers 334 nonchewers 330 identified among general population housetohouse visit using screening questionnaire frequencymatched sex age within fiveyear range data collected structured interviews physical measurements including blood pressure weight heightthe prevalence hypertension significantly higher among khat chewers 134 nonchewers 107 odds ratio 166 95 confidence interval ci 105 313 considerably high proportion chewers 299 nonchewers 206 suboptimal diastolic blood pressure 80 mmhg mean sd diastolic blood pressure significantly higher among khat chewers 750 116 nonchewers 729 117 p 005 similarly khat chewers significantly higher mean sd heart rate 763 115 nonchewers 739 126 p 005 significant difference mean systolic blood pressure two groupsregular chewing khat associated elevated mean diastolic blood pressure consistent peripheral vasoconstrictor effect cathinone regular khat chewing may sustained effects cardiovascular system contribute elevated blood pressure population level