[Role of the psychosocial factors in blood pressure balance; Cross-sectional study including 100 ambulatory hypertensive patients]

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is a real public health problem. His pathogenesis involves a combination of several factors including environmental and psychosocial factors. We focus on the links between the blood pressure imbalance and some psychosocial factors in a population of ambulatory patients with hypertension. It was a cross-sectional study on 100 patients with hypertension followed up in Cardiology in Sfax [Tunisia]. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]. Behavioral pattern was evaluated by a clinical interview, referring to the model of Friedman and Rosenman. We also collected socio-environmental, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic data. The most predictive factors of an unbalanced blood pressure were independently personality type [A] or unspecified [p = 0002], high fat diet [p = 0026], poor drug adherence [p = 0038] and depression [p = 0015]. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle factors are interrelated and implicated in the blood pressure imbalance, suggesting the need of a hygienic behavior joining the international recommendations. We insist on the treatment of the anxious and depressive disease and the psychotherapeutic approach of some personality patterns in the management of hypertension