Hypertension and its determinant factors in a Brazilian male working population   Hypertension in male workers

Abstract

Among men, hypertension stands out as a specific public health problem, as this population has lower rates of treatment, knowledge, and disease control, and less adherence to medication. It was used baseline data from a longitudinal study, conducted with a sample of 1,024 male workers aged 18 years or older from a municipality in Northeast Brazil. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or prior diagnosis of hypertension and/or use of antihypertensive drugs. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated for the associated lifestyle factors. The prevalence of hypertension in this population was of 28.6% (95% CI: 25.9-31.5); the distal factors were age, skin color/ethnicity, and household income; intermediate factors: alcohol abuse, tobacco consumption, perception of high salt intake, and physical inactivity; and the proximal factor body mass index were positively associated with hypertension in male workers. Higher PAFs were observed among workers with tobacco and alcohol abuse, perceived high salt intake, physically inactive, and overweight and obese. Is necessary to take specific actions geared to orientation, prevention, and health promotion in workplaces to reduce complications from hypertension and improve lifestyle among this male population.