Evaluation of association of psychosocial stress and hypertension in adults >30 years of age

Abstract

Background: Hypertension has multifactorial causation. Stress has chronically been cited as an imperative cause of hypertension among other risk factors such as sleep abnormalities. The interrelation between psychosocial stress and hypertension has been significant though the exact association remains debatable. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the association of psychosocial stress and other factors such as family and social support, sleep abnormalities, physical activity, and addiction with hypertension in adults >30 years of age. Materials and Methods: Age- and sex-matched community-based case–control study with 90 incident hypertensive cases aged (>30) and 90 controls were selected from rural populations in central India. Study participants were examined and interviewed regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial stress, family and social support, quality of sleep, addiction, and physical activity using four structured and validated questionnaires. Data analysis was done by binomial logistic regression with SPSS (version 21). Results: Psychosocial stress was significantly associated with incident hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =8.198, 95% confidence interval [C.I.] 2.85–23.52). Participants having compromised family and social support (AOR = 3.0, 95% C.I: 1.41–6.34), poor quality of sleep (AOR = 4.429, 95% C.I: 1.78–10.96), and low physical activity (AOR = 2.92, 95% C.I: 1.22–6.98) had higher odds of developing hypertension. Sedentary occupation, lower socioeconomic status, and body mass index ≥23 kg/m2 each had an association with hypertension. Conclusion: This study highlights a significant number of undiagnosed or untreated cases of psychosocial distress in the community. Thus, calling for immediate attention toward psychosocial stress as an important etiological determinant of hypertension.