Factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension and cardiovascular risk in hypertensive 60-year-old men and

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Axel C Carlsson1, Per E Wändell, Gunilla Journath

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. axelcefam@hotmail.com

Hypertension Research : Official Journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
|June 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Most 60-year-olds with diagnosed hypertension have uncontrolled blood pressure. Key factors like waist circumference and financial access to healthcare influence hypertension control in men and women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hypertension is a significant cardiovascular risk factor.
  • Effective blood pressure management is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality.
  • Understanding factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare cardiovascular risk profiles in 60-year-olds with uncontrolled versus controlled diagnosed hypertension.
  • To identify medical, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension in men and women separately.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based, cross-sectional study of 4228 60-year-olds in Sweden.
  • Included individuals with previously diagnosed hypertension (503 men, 445 women).
  • Data collected via physical examination (including blood pressure measurement) and a comprehensive questionnaire.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was observed: 78% in men and 67% in women.
  • Independent predictors for uncontrolled hypertension in men included larger waist circumference, coronary heart disease (CHD), lack of healthcare for financial reasons, and lower fruit intake.
  • Independent predictors for uncontrolled hypertension in women included larger waist circumference, CHD, and living in an apartment.

Conclusions:

  • The majority of diagnosed hypertensive 60-year-olds have uncontrolled blood pressure, indicating a need for improved management strategies.
  • Specific factors like obesity (waist circumference), existing CHD, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle choices are associated with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Targeted interventions addressing these modifiable risk factors are essential to reduce cardiovascular disease burden in this population.

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