Abstract

Introduction: Lifestyle refers to peoples’ behavior and pattern that has affected their health. This aim of this study was to determine the association between lifestyle and hypertension in rural population in Gorgan.

Material and methods: In this case-control study, 200 hypertensive subjects and 200 controls in Gorgan rural population were selected via two stage sampling method. Data was collected using a questionnaire consists of demographic questions (20 questions) and health promotion lifestyle profile questions (52 questions). Lifestyle profile questions, contains total life style score and six dimensional physical activities of stress management, interpersonal communication skill, health responsibility, nutrition and spiritual growth. The content validity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 87%) of questionnaire was approved. Data were analyzed using Chi Square, T tests and Logistic regression in SPSS version 16. A P-value less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Findings: The mean onset of hypertension was 53.2. Twelve percent of cases and 20.5% of controls were smokers. Also, 57% of cases and 51% of controls had family history of hypertension, 63% of cases and 61.1% controls had BMI of 25 that is higher than normal. In addition, Logistic regression test showed that the association between hypertension and total lifestyle score, physical activity, spiritual growth, interpersonal communication skill, stress management was statistically significant (P-value <0.05). The results of T-Test showed that the association between health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal communication skill, stress management in case and control group was statistically significant (P-value <0.05).

Conclusion: The results showed that unhealthy behaviors particularly in nutrition, stress and physical activity has a relationship with hypertension therefore it is necessary to implement educational programs for people in order to have a healthy life style and healthy behaviors.