Risk factors of hypertension and correlates of blood pressure and mean arterial pressure among patients receiving health exams at the Preventive Medicine Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the relevance of several risk factors for hypertension in a Thai population.


METHODS
The authors used multiple linear regression to identify factors that influenced systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in a study of 1,398 patients.


RESULTS
Hypertensive risk factors were similar among men and women. Increased age, body mass index (BMI), and low educational attainment, were statistically significant risk factors for hypertension in men. For example, overweight men (BMI = 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) were 1.88 times more likely to be hypertensive (OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.02-3.47) as compared with men who had a normal BMI (20.0-24.9 kg/m2). Obese men (> or = 30.0 kg/m2) had an increased risk, but this association was not significant (OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 0.34-5.69). Similar risk factors were identified among women. Overweight women had a 1.74-increased risk for hypertension (OR = 1.74, 95%CI = 1.13-2.69). The corresponding risk was increased 3-fold among obese women (OR = 3.05, 95%CI = 1.76-5.29). Among men, age and BMI were positively associated with increased SBP, DBP and MAP Men > or = 60 years of age had an increase in SBP (beta = 18.89, p < 0.001), DBP (beta = 5.53, p < 0.001), and MAP (beta = 9.89, p < 0.001) values as compared with the referent group (< 40 years). Similar associations were noted among women.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension risk factors observed in this Thai population are similar to those found in Western populations. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate rigorously causal relationships between risk factors and hypertension.
Lee
Marshala
M
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Entzminger
Laketa
L
Lohsoonthorn
Vitool
V
Williams
Michelle A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand