[ hypertension rate and it's risk factors in elders of Yasouj 2005]

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent diseases that, causes lots of complications, it is not controlled. Sufferers should change their life style and avoid the risk factors. The aim of this research is to determine the hypertension rate and it's risk factors in elders of Yasouj in 2005. This is a descriptive analytical and cross-sectional study. Convenient sampling was done which was consisting of all elders above 60 referred to the health centers during the first six months of the year. Data collection instrument was questionnaire and also scale, meter and sphygmomanometer was used to determine weight, height and blood pressure. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistics such as ; analysis of variance and x2 tests. 286[47 .4%] of elders were suffering from HTN out of which 233[38.6%] had HTN history and 53[8.8%], did not have any knowledge of their HTN. The BMI mean in elders with high blood pressure was 94.1 +/- 3.3 and in others, it was 23.1 +/- 2.3. The average weekly use of meat, eggs and smoking of patients with high blood pressure as compare to those with normal blood pressure did not show significant difference. Considering the risk factors of hypertension the necessity of screening and educating elders by health personnels to improve their life style is felt