Factors Affecting Hypertension among the Malaysian Elderly.

Sima Ataollahi Eshkoor,Tengku Aizan Hamid,Chan Yoke Mun,Suzana Shahar,Chee Kyun Ng

doi:10.3390/jcdd3010008

Abstract

Hypertension is a common chronic disease in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effects of age, ethnicity, gender, education, marital status, nutritional parameters, and blood elements on the risk of high blood pressure in the Malaysian elderly. This research was conducted on a group of 2322 non-institutionalized Malaysian elderly. The hierarchy binary logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the risk of hypertension in respondents. Approximately, 45.61% of subjects had hypertension. The findings indicated that the female gender (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.54), an increase in body weight (OR = 1.61), and an increase in the blood levels of albumin (OR = 1.51), glucose (OR = 1.92), and triglycerides (OR = 1.27) significantly increased the risk of hypertension in subjects (p < 0.05). Conversely, an increase in both dietary carbohydrates (OR = 0.74), and blood cholesterol level (OR = 0.42) significantly reduced the risk of hypertension in samples (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the results showed that ethnicity was a non-relevant factor to increase the risk of hypertension in subjects. It was concluded that female gender, an increase in body weight, and an increase in the blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, and albumin enhanced the risk of high blood pressure in the Malaysian elderly. In addition, an increase in both dietary carbohydrates and blood cholesterol level decreased hypertension in subjects.

Highlights

Hypertension is a common chronic condition in the elderly that is diagnosed with a consistent high blood pressure [1]—systolic pressure equal to or greater than 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 90 mm Hg [2,3] for a long time [1]
This study evaluated the effects of variables including, socio-demographic factors, nutritional status, and body weight as well as the blood levels of glucose, albumin, triglycerides, and cholesterol on the risk of high blood pressure in respondents
The findings indicated that female gender and an increase in the factors of body weight and the blood levels of triglycerides, albumin, and glucose enhanced the risk of hypertension in subjects

Summary

Introduction

Hypertension is a common chronic condition in the elderly that is diagnosed with a consistent high blood pressure [1]—systolic pressure equal to or greater than 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic pressure equal to or greater than 90 mm Hg [2,3] for a long time [1]. It can cause and accelerate vascular complications via induced changes in the structure and function of endothelial cells [4]. The prevalence of hypertension in central Malaysia is 25.6% and 51.1% in community and nursing homes, respectively, that is among people aged 55 years and above [8]

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Conclusion