[Hypertension and lifestyle in 24-65 year old people in Qazvin Kosar region in 2007]

ABSTRACT

Lifestyle affects human health and thus, many health problems are related to people's lifestyles. It is also considered as a modifiable factor in Hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors of hypertension which are related to lifestyle, in 24-64 year old people in Kosar region of Qazvin city. This was a case - control study, consisting of 450 people who were selected through systematic sampling. The data collection instruments were lifestyle questionnaire and data registration paper that their validity and reliability were determined by content validity and test-retest, respectively. People with blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg were regarded as cases while the rest were regarded as controls. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5 using descriptive and analytical statistics. The cases and controls had statistically significant difference in term of physical activity [p<0.01], smoking [p<0.001] and BMI [p<0.001]. Results showed that physical activity, smoking and obesity affect the incidence of hypertension in this region. These results necessitate interventions to change lifestyle of inhabitants of this region