Prevalence and risk factors of prehypertensive people in the community

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors of prehypertensivepopulation in the catchment areas of Lukhoke primary care unit, Maung district, Pathumthani province.

Method: This was a cross sectional study in the participants who lived in the catchment areas of Lukhoke primarycare unit (PCU) between June and November 2010. Baseline demographic data were obtained and physicalexamination was performed in all 469 participants, aged 35-59 years. All participants were classifi edinto three groups according to their blood pressure using the Joint National Committee (JNC) 7 criteria;group 1: normal (BP < 120/80 mmHg), group 2: prehypertension (BP = 120-139/ 80-89 mmHg), andgroup 3: hypertension (BP > 140/90 mmHg). The prevalence of prehypertension was calculated and thefactors correlated with increasing prevalence of prehypertension were identifi ed using logisticregression analysis.

Results: Out of 469 participants were 196 (41.8%) men and 273 (58.2%) women with mean age 46.29 ±7.06 years. The prevalence of prehypertension was 149/469 (31.8%). From multivariate analysis, factorswhich were independently associated with increasing prevalence of prehypertension included fi rstly,increased eating salt diet (taste); second, history of chronic diseases e.g. diabetes mellitus and highcholesterol; third, physical activity; fourth, eating high fat diet; and fi nally, high body mass index (BMI)(p < 0.05)

Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of prehypertension was relatively high compared with Thaipopulation and South East Asian population. The important risk factors associated with health behaviors. The furtherstudies should encourage the people to establish lifestyle modifi cation among high risk population forreduction of the prevalence of hypertension.

Key words: Prevalence, Prehypertension, Risk factors