title: Correlates of hypertension among adult men and women in kosovo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the independent socioeconomic, behavioral and psychosocial correlates of hypertension among the adult population of Kosovo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Pristina in 2012-2013 which included a large representative sample of 1793 consecutive primary health care users aged ≥35 years (mean age: 51.2±6.7 years; 52.5% women; overall response: 95%). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured, whereas demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, place of residence, education, employment status and income), lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol intake, physical exercise and dietary fat intake) and psychosocial factors (hostility and reaction to transition) were assessed through a structured questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted binary logistic regression was used to assess the independent "predictors" of hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon simultaneous adjustment in a backward stepwise elimination procedure for all socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle factors and psychosocial factors, significant positive correlates of hypertension were older age (OR=1.03, 95%CI=1.01-1.05), male gender (OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.19-1.58), a lower educational attainment (OR=1.36, 95%CI=1.08-1.67), smoking (OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.28-2.16), physical inactivity (OR=1.98, 95%CI=1.46-2.74) and hostility (OR=1.42, 95%CI=1.17-2.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study conducted in transitional Kosovo are generally in line with previous reports from the Western Balkan countries and beyond. Decision-makers and policymakers should be aware of the rising trend and socioeconomic, behavioral and psychosocial determinants of hypertension in post-war Kosovo.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Prishtina, Kosovo ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina, Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Valdet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hashani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roshi
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Genc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burazeri
keywords: Kosovo; Pristina; Western Balkans; behavioral factors; blood pressure; hypertension; lifestyle factors; physical activity; psychosocial factors; smoking