Social and lifestyle factors associated with hypertension in Bahraini community

Abstract

Purpose

Hypertension is one of important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which represents 30 per cent of annual total deaths in Bahrain. Studies on factors associated with hypertension in Bahrain are very limited. The present paper aimed to highlight some social and lifestyle factors that may be associated with hypertension in Bahraini community.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional household survey was carried out using a multistage sampling technique to select 514 Bahraini adults aged 30‐79 years. A pretested validated questionnaire was used. History of hypertension and diabetes was determined by positive response to previous diagnosis of these diseases.

Findings

The risk of occurrence of hypertension was greater in older people, women, illiterate people, non‐smokers, those who did not walk regularly, those who watched television daily, obese people, those who had a history of diabetes and those who consumed vegetables more than four times a week. However, age, gender, education, obesity and diabetes were the main risk factors statistically associated with hypertension using bivariate analysis (p<0.01). When multiple logistic regression was used, only age (p<0.01) and obesity (p<0.05) were found to be statistically significant.

Originality/value

Social, lifestyle and dietary factors should be considered in any intervention programme to prevent and control hypertension in Bahraini community.

Citation

Musaiger, A.O., Al‐Mannai, M. and Al‐Roomi, K. (2013), "Social and lifestyle factors associated with hypertension in Bahraini community", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 43 No. 3, pp. 213-217. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651311327855