High blood pressure in adults with disabilities: Influence of gender, body weight and health behaviors

The aims of this study were to explore the mean and distribution of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and to examine the influence of gender, body weight and health behaviors on hypertension in adults with disabilities. We analyzed the 2010 annual community health examination chart of adults with disabilities in east Taiwan. The study samples included 833 adults with disabilities whose age 30 years and over participated in the analyses. The mean value of diastolic and systolic blood pressure (mmHg) of the study participants was 76.51 ± 12.65 (range = 40–155) and 127.39 ± 20.32 (range = 77–221). Fifteen percent and 23.4% of the participants have high diastolic (≧90 mmHg) and systolic (≧140 mmHg) blood pressure. There were 27.4% of the participants who had hypertension, high diastolic or/and systolic blood pressure. Finally, we found that the factors of older age (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.22–4.93), overweight or obese in BMI (OR = 6.72, 95% CI = 1.90–23.78; OR = 6.76, 95% CI = 1.84–24.84), waist circumference (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.03–2.61) and vegetable/fruit intake (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.39–0.94) were variables that could significantly predict the hypertension condition of the subjects after controlling factors of marital status, type and level of disability. To improve the healthcare for people who suffer with and prevention for hypertension, the study highlights the health authorities should pay much attention to blood pressure condition and their determinants for people with disabilities in the communities.

► To explore the profile of blood pressure, and to examine the influence of gender, body weight and health behaviors on hypertension in adults with disabilities.
► There were 27.4% subjects have a hypertension which they have high diastolic or/and systolic blood pressure.
► A logistic regression analysis found that age, BMI and waist circumference were variables that could significantly predict the hypertension condition of the subjects.