The Prevalence of Hypertension and Related Nutritional Risk Factors of Elderly Living in a Rural Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of hypertension in Korean rural elderly was significantly higher than that of the general population. Determining the potential risk factors of hypertension would be useful for managing and improving the treatment and prevention of hypertension in rural areas. METHODS: We studied 336 elderly individuals 110 males, 226 females) aged between 65 years and 95 years residing in the rural area, S-gun Jeonbuk. Health-related habits, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, anthropometric and biochemical measurements were assessed. Subjects were defined as hypertensive if SBP was > or = 140 mmHg or if DBP was > or = 90 mmHg or take an antihypertensive drug. RESULTS: The rate of prevalence of hypertension in the study group was 51.8% (male 40.0%, female 57.5%). The risk of occurrence of hypertension was higher among females (OR, 1.98), 75 years old or older (OR, 1.62), BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 (OR, 2.84), acceptable range (upper end) of body fat (OR, 2.29) and unhealthy (too high) range of body fat (OR, 3.28), hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 2.17) and hypercholesterolemia (OR, 5.42), low protein intakes (OR, 1.78). However, health related habits, frequencies of intake of food groups and most nutrient intakes except for protein did not show any significant relationship with the occurrence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the risk of occurrence of hypertension among elderly individuals in rural areas, it is needed to avoid increase of body fat, 25 or higher BMI (kg/m2) and hyperlipidemia and low intake of proteins.