Emylly Carlos da Silva et al. Paulo da Fonseca Valença Neto Cezar Augusto Casotti Claudio Bispo de Almeida … Débora Jesus da Silva Saulo Sacramento Meira Beatriz Cardoso Roriz Janayna Araújo Viana Vanessa Silva Souza Viana Renata de Sá Ribeiro Késia Chaves da Silva Dennis Gonçalves Novais Maiara Bernardes Marques Lunalva Aurelio Pedroso Sallet Lucas dos Santos
Abstract
Background:
Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is a major public health issue, particularly among older adults, due to its high prevalence and impact on morbidity and mortality.
Objective:
To investigate factors associated with SAH in older adults from a small municipality in northeastern Brazil.
Methods:
A population-based cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted among 232 community-dwelling older adults. Independent variables included socioeconomic, behavioral, and health-related factors, with SAH as the outcome. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Poisson regression with a robust estimator. Crude models were followed by a hierarchical multiple explanatory model (Level 1: socioeconomic variables; Level 2: behavioral aspects; Level 3: health conditions). Associations were considered statistically significant at the 5% level (p < 0.05).
Results:
The prevalence of SAH was 59.1% (men: 50.0%; women: 65.4%). An increased likelihood of SAH was associated with female sex (PR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05–1.68), insufficient physical activity (PR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.01–1.54), abdominal obesity (PR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.09–1.79), diabetes mellitus (PR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.03–1.64), and falls (PR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.07–1.74).
Conclusion:
A high prevalence of SAH was identified, particularly among women and those with insufficient physical activity, abdominal obesity, diabetes mellitus, and a history of falls.