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
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Clinical Nursing Science, Nursing Policy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Sociology, Yonsei University College of Social Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Nursing, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Public Health, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hckim@yuhs.ac
- 6Division of Silver Industry, Kangnam University, Yongin, Korea.
- 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
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- The Effects of Spouse Support and Conflict on Depression in Older Adults and Their Gender Difference
- Social Network, Social Support, Social Conflict and Mini-Mental State Examination Scores of Rural Older Adults : Differential Associations across Relationship Types
- Effects of Different Types of Perceived Social Support on Changes in Subjective Health among Older Adults: A Focus on Gender Differences
- The Moderating Effect of Gender on the Relationship Between Self-neglect and Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults of Korea
- Association of group-level segregation with cardiovascular health in older adults: an analysis of data from the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project
