Blood Pressure Status and Its Indicators in Individuals Covered by Integrated Health Centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Controlling hypertension is a key component in the management of cardiovascular risk factors and is an essential part of the prevention strategy.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in seven integrated health centers covering most families in Bandar Abbas from July 2019 to February 2020. The sample size was estimated to include 968 individuals. Independent samples t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare groups. In addition, some factors affecting uncontrolled blood pressure were identified using logistic regression.

In this study, 68.4% and 31.6% were women and men, respectively, of whom 136 cases were single, while 756 cases were married. With an increase in age, the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in both genders showed a significant increase (P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression (crude odds ratios, ORs) demonstrated that age over 60 years, smoking, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity, and the use of salt were the most important factors influencing the presence of uncontrolled hypertension. According to the results of the multivariable logistic regression model, smoking was the most important factor affecting the inability to control hypertension since controlling the effect of other variables triggered the chance of not controlling hypertension in smokers as 2.76 times higher than in non-smokers (adjusted OR: 2.76, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-7.26).

Since using table salt, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking count as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, necessary prevention and treatment planning are strongly recommended to control modifiable risk factors in this city through public education.