title: Health behaviors among older adults with hypertension, Brazil, 2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors and other cardiovascular risk factors among older adults with self-reported arterial hypertension, and to compare these prevalences with those of non-hypertensives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data used was obtained from the system Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL--Telephone-based Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases) referring to the 9,038 older adults living in households with at least one fixed telephone line in the 26 Brazilian state capitals and Federal District in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 55% (95% CI: 53;57). The majority of hypertensives showed three or more concomitant risk factors (69%; 95% CI: 67;71). It was found a high prevalence of insufficient physical activity during leisure (88%; 95% CI: 86;89) and of fruit and vegetable intake below five daily portions (90%; 95% CI: 88;90) among hypertensive subjects, followed by adding salt to meals (60%; 95% CI: 57;63), regular intake of fatty meats (23%; 95% CI: 21;25), smoking (9%; 95% CI: 7;10), and binge drinking (3%; 95% CI: 2;4). With the exception of smoking, these prevalences were similar to those reported by non-hypertensive subjects (p >0.05). Prevalence of smoking was lower among hypertensives (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64;0.89), whereas prevalence of overweight (APR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.25;1.49), dyslipidemia (APR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.26;1.36), and diabetes (APR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.27;1.37) was higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that, with the exception of smoking, unhealthy behaviors persist among older adults after hypertension is diagnosed.
authors: Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Antropologia Médica, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. lima-costa@cpqrr.fi ocruz.br
authors: Maria Fernanda Furtado de
authors: MF
authors: Lima e Costa
authors: Sérgio Viana
authors: SV
authors: Peixoto
authors: Cibele Comini
authors: CC
authors: César
authors: Deborah Carvalho
authors: DC
authors: Malta
authors: Erly Catarina de
authors: EC
authors: Moura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology