Influencing factors of the lifestyle modification of the patients with hypertension

Abstract

Objective To investigate the status of the lifestyle of the patients with hypertension using stage-based assessment and explore the influence factors. Methods Patients with hypertension at the ward of cardiovascular department in China was sampled conveniently （n = 174）： The stage based assessment was used to evaluate the four lifestyles： smoking, exercise, high salt intake and high fat intake. Results The results revealed that 163 subjects （93.8%） were at the pre-action stage for high salt intake. 47 subjects （27%） take exercise with the highest number among the four lifestyles in the stage before intention. Age and gender were positively correlated with the stages of smoking （r = 0. 605,0. 159;P 〈 0. 01 or P 〈 0. 05 ）, while education, smoking years, daily cigarette consumption were negatively correlated with the stages of smoking（ r = -0. 170, -0. 845, -0. 871; P 〈 0. 05 respectively）. Age, education, occupation and hypertension history were positively correlated with action stages （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. Only gender was positively correlated with high fat intake （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. The Logistic analysis showed that age, smoking duration years and daily cigarette consumption was predictable factors for the smoking stages of changing. Exercise stages of changing was predicted by age, education and hypertension history. Conclusions The stage based assessment not only can reveal the problematic lifestyles but also can be used to understand the patient readiness to change. This investigation was helpful to design the more desirable intervention measures for patients with hypertension to lifestyle modification. Key words: Hypertension; Phase change model; Life style; Influencing factors