J Prev Med Public Health.  2015 Jan;48(1):38-47. 10.3961/jpmph.14.043.

Gender Differences in Hypertension Control Among Older Korean Adults: Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project

• Chu SH
• Baek JW
• Kim ES
• Stefani KM
• Lee WJ
• Park YR
• Youm Y
• Kim HC

• KMID: 2381445
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.14.043

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Controlling blood pressure is a key step in reducing cardiovascular mortality in older adults. Gender differences in patients' attitudes after disease diagnosis and their management of the disease have been identified. However, it is unclear whether gender differences exist in hypertension management among older adults. We hypothesized that gender differences would exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control among community-dwelling, older adults.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 653 Koreans aged > or =60 years who participated in the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare several variables between undiagnosed and diagnosed hypertension, and between uncontrolled and controlled hypertension.
RESULTS
Diabetes was more prevalent in men and women who had uncontrolled hypertension than those with controlled hypertension or undiagnosed hypertension. High body mass index was significantly associated with uncontrolled hypertension only in men. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that in women, awareness of one's blood pressure level (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; p=0.003) and the number of blood pressure checkups over the previous year (OR, 1.06; p=0.011) might influence the likelihood of being diagnosed with hypertension. More highly educated women were more likely to have controlled hypertension than non-educated women (OR, 5.23; p=0.013).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that gender differences exist among factors associated with hypertension diagnosis and control in the study population of community-dwelling, older adults. Education-based health promotion strategies for hypertension control might be more effective in elderly women than in elderly men. Gender-specific approaches may be required to effectively control hypertension among older adults.

Keyword

Gender identity; Hypertension; Management; Older adults

MeSH Terms

Aged
*Aging
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Awareness
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
*Health Status
Humans
Hypertension/diagnosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sex Factors