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Questionnaire Study on the Lifestyle of Hypertensive Patients
Shinsuke Morio, Jun Sugihara*, Hisashi Itahashi*, Satoru Matsubara†, Ryohei Yoshida‡, Akihiko Suyama, Mikizo Okamoto and Hideaki Nakayama
Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, *Shimane Prefectural Saigo Health Center, Saigo-cho 685, †Department of Environment and Health, Shimane Prefectural Government, Matue 690 and ‡Tottori Prefectural Neu Health Center, Hino-cho 689-51, Japan
This case-control study was carried out in order to analyze the lifestyle of hypertensive patients, to evaluate activities of a health center and local governments, and to establish a new method for the care of hypertensive patients. In the study, a questionnaire was administered to hypertensive (27 males and 80 females) and healthy (54 males and 160 females) subjects who participated in municipal medical screening programs in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, between 1990 and 1991. The rate of family history of hypertension in the hypertensives was higher than that in the controls. They were more conscious of the need to restrict dietary salt, fat, sugar and calories than were the controls, but did not apply their awareness. Their psychological state was also different from that of the controls; the hypertensives reported greater mental pressure than did the controls. In the area studied, the proportion of poorly controlled hypertensive among hypertensive was significantly higher than that in other areas for both males and females. This study suggests the important role of physicians whom residents can easily visit, the importance of psychological support for hypertensives and strong leadership concerning dietary habits, and the necessity of including family history in mass medical screening programs.
Key words: case-control study; epidemiology; hypertension; life style; medical screening