| dc.description.abstract | Background: Hypertension is a common cardiovascular risk factor worldwide and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Various lifestyle risk factors are known to playa role in the initiation and maintenance of hypertension. Modifying these lifestyle risk factors has been found in various studies to favorably influence population prevalence of hypertension as well as better an easier control of blood pressure in those on pharmacological agents. Emphasis on pharmacological interventions alone has not been associated with good control of blood pressure.There is an urgent need for primary prevention by targeting lifestyle modifications like weight control, dietary salt reduction, exercise, cessation of smoking and moderation of alcohol. Scanty data is available on prevalence of cardiovascular lifestyle risk factors in Africans both with and without hypertension.
Objectives: To compare the prevalence of modifiable risk factors for hypertension (salt intake, physical activity, diet, obesity, alcohol consumption and tobacco use) among hypertensive patients and compare it with that of non-hypertensive patients at Kenyatta national Hospital.
Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive survey with non hypertensive comparators
Subjects: A total of 200 files were screened. Fifty-five 'participants were excluded for various reasons. A hundred and forty-five participants were recruited by consecutive sampling. 70 were hypertensive and 75 were controls. The participants were aged 35 years and above. Those with co-morbidities like diabetes, renal and thyroid diseases were excluded from the study.
Methods: A structured questionnaire (STEPwise Questionnaire) was used to evaluate SOCIOdemographic data and the risk factors, which includes cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and diet. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Urine sample was collected and urine sodium measured using A VL electrolyte analyzer. SPSS 17.0 analyzed the data. Logistic regression model was used to identify multivariate data.
Results: The median age of the study population was 53 years. The mean age for the hypertensive patients was 58.34years. However, this mean age was significantly different from the mean age of the non-hypertensive comparators which was 50.93years, (P<O.OOOI). All significant variables between the population two groups were subsequently adjusted for age using the logistic regression model to eliminate any age bias. The female to male ratio was 2.8: I. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption was similar in the two study groups. The levels of physical activity were significantly different between the hypertension group and the nonhypertensive comparators. Fruits intake per week was significantly higher in the nonhypertensive group (P=O.O 13). The urinary sodium output exhibited a trend towards higher levels in the non-hypertensive group than the hypertensive group (P=O.057). However, the level of awareness for dietary salt reduction was significantly higher amongst the hypertensive patients. The hypertensive group had a significantly higher mean BMI (32.8kg/m2) than the nonhypertensive (26.8kg/m\ P=O.OO 1 after adjusting for age.
Conclusion: The modifiable lifestyle related factors of high dietary salt intake and adequate fruit and vegetable consumption are currently being exploited for the control and prevention of hypertension in our study patients, however, fruit intake needs optimization. The physical activity in routine lifestyle is low in our study patients. Awareness of the modifiable lifestyle risk factors for hypertension especially salt reduction was higher among the hypertensive study patients | en_US |
