The Bambui Health and Aging Study (BHAS): factors associated with the treatment of hypertension in older adults in the community.
The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the treatment of hypertension among older adults living in the community. All residents (n = 1,742) of Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (15,000 inhabitants) aged > or = 60 years were selected, and 1494 (85.8%) were interviewed and examined. Of these, 919 (61.5%) were hypertensive, 704 were aware of their condition (study population), and 578 were under treatment. Only 38.8% of the individuals under treatment presented controlled systolic and diastolic pressures (< 140 and < 90 mmHg, respectively). Independent associations with treatment of hypertension were found for, in decreasing order of magnitude: less time elapsed since the last blood pressure measurement, greater number of physician visits in the past 12 months, higher body mass index, female gender, history of coronary disease, changes in diet due to arterial hypertension, and higher family income. Our results show that the factors most strongly associated with treatment of hypertension (use of health services) could be modified through adequate health policies for older adults.
Firmo
Josélia Oliveira Araújo
JO
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21041-210, Brasil. firmoj@cpqrr.fiocruz.br
Barreto
Sandhi Maria
SM
Lima-Costa
Maria Fernanda
MF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors