[Hypertension and perceived material insecurity in a disadvantaged Caribbean population]

To assess the relationship between hypertension and perceived material insecurity in a disadvantaged Caribbean population.

We used data from a cross-sectional study involving 2420 disadvantaged subjects aged 18-69 years, included consecutively at three Guadeloupian health centers. Hypertension was diagnosed over two consultations with a total of six blood pressure measurements. Perceived material insecurity was assessed using a closed-ended question.

The prevalence of hypertension was estimated at 17.7% among subjects who believed their material situation would improve in the future, at 28.2% among those who believed it would remain the same, and at 43.3% among those who believed it would deteriorate. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension risk more than doubled (OR: 2.35 - P: 0.002) among subjects who believed that their material situation would deteriorate in the future compared to those who believed that their situation would improve, with no significant sex-related differences. This relationship was especially strong among subjects aged 40 years or more (OR: 3.30 - P<10(-3)), and among subjects with low education level (OR: 3.81 - P: 0.003), but was independent of the other tested variables.

In this disadvantaged population, perceived material insecurity is a psychosocial factor strongly associated with hypertension, independently of subjects' risk behaviors. Subjects aged 40 years or more and subjects with a low education level seem the most vulnerable.