Health behaviors among older adults with hypertension, Brazil, 2006.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors and other cardiovascular risk factors among older adults with self-reported arterial hypertension, and to compare these prevalences with those of non-hypertensives.

METHODS

Data used was obtained from the system Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL--Telephone-based Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases) referring to the 9,038 older adults living in households with at least one fixed telephone line in the 26 Brazilian state capitals and Federal District in 2006.

RESULTS

Prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 55% (95% CI: 53;57). The majority of hypertensives showed three or more concomitant risk factors (69%; 95% CI: 67;71). It was found a high prevalence of insufficient physical activity during leisure (88%; 95% CI: 86;89) and of fruit and vegetable intake below five daily portions (90%; 95% CI: 88;90) among hypertensive subjects, followed by adding salt to meals (60%; 95% CI: 57;63), regular intake of fatty meats (23%; 95% CI: 21;25), smoking (9%; 95% CI: 7;10), and binge drinking (3%; 95% CI: 2;4). With the exception of smoking, these prevalences were similar to those reported by non-hypertensive subjects (p >0.05). Prevalence of smoking was lower among hypertensives (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.64;0.89), whereas prevalence of overweight (APR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.25;1.49), dyslipidemia (APR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.26;1.36), and diabetes (APR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.27;1.37) was higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that, with the exception of smoking, unhealthy behaviors persist among older adults after hypertension is diagnosed.