Nutritional Discrepancies Among Inpatients and Outpatients Diagnosed with Hypertension

Objectives: Arterial hypertension (AH) is one of the most common disorders affecting the human population. The diet of patients with AH can influence the course of the disease and prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in nutrition in hospitalised and non-hospitalised hypertensive patients, compared to control groups of non-hypertensive patients from the same medical centres. Methods: Patients from nine centres-six hospitals and three ambulatory care centres-were surveyed. The Questionnaire for the Assessment of Dietary Habits, Lifestyle, and Nutrition Knowledge (KomPAN) was administered by interviewers. Results: Complete results were obtained from 172 hospitalised and 63 non-hospitalised patients. A significantly higher mean body mass index was found for the hypertensive patients (p < 0.001), and a higher unhealthy diet index score was also shown for the hypertensive patients (p = 0.003). Over and above this, a lower mean health-promoting diet index score was found in the hospitalised group (who were on a hospital diet) for the hypertensive patients (p = 0.018). Summary: The study highlights a strong positive correlation between body mass index (BMI) and arterial hypertension (AH), with patients exhibiting higher BMI levels compared to a control group. A BMI of over 25 significantly increases the likelihood of developing AH, and obesity is associated with a higher risk in both men and women. Conclusions: The study indicates that a hospital diet may not be suitable for people with AH. Further research should be conducted to obtain reliable results. Clinical implications: The study showed which factors should be considered when composing a diet for people with hypertension, the relevance of which was demonstrated in the discussion. The study shows that the problem that clinicians have been struggling with for years is still present and inadequately remedied.