[Knowledge about hypertension and blood pressure level]

The improvement of efficacy of the hypertension prevention and patient education largely depend on determination of the hypertension risk factors and increase in knowledge about hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess correlation between the environmental factors and knowledge about hypertension and occasionally measured blood pressure values.

The studied group consisted of 485 subjects, who voluntarily participated in the street-based hypertension screening program in Cracow (summer 1997). All subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning their health behaviours (i.e. stress, smoking and drinking habits) and a test to evaluate their knowledge about hypertension and its risk factors. The blood pressure measurement were taken using semiautomatic device (Digital Blood Pressure UA-702), in the sitting position, after a rest minimum five minutes. The study group consisted of persons with negative history of hypertension (n = 440), and untreated hypertensive patients (n = 45). In order to assess the influence of different factors on blood pressure level, the subjects were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a particular risk factor. In the statistical analysis Student's t-test, chi 2 and linear regression analysis with adjustment for possible confuses were used. All values were presented as mean +/- SD.

The mean age was 37.1 +/- 17.8 years. Participants were well educated (75.9% had finished college or high school), and there were more women than men in the study group (57.5% vs 42.5%). 24.1% of participants had blood pressure values exceeding 140/90 mmHg. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that age, body mass index and knowledge about hypertension significantly influenced the level of systolic blood pressure; while only body mass index was among the factors determining diastolic blood pressure.

This study confirms the influence of age, male gender, body mass index, alcohol consumption, stress and the snoring on the blood pressure level. The association between the knowledge about hypertension risk factors or hypertension and occasionally measured blood pressure values has been demonstrated.