Lifestyle and self-management determinants of hypertension control in a sample of Australian adults

ABSTRACT

Background: Poor hypertension control can increase the risk of cardiovascular, renal and kidney diseases, and increase the social and economic burden of the disease.

Methods: This study aimed to explore the lifestyle and self-management skills (medication adherence, self-monitoring, self-efficacy) determinants of hypertension control in a sample of hypertensive Australians. In a cross-sectional design, a total of 233 hypertensive adults completed a survey. Hypertension control was categorised as good control if hypertensive individuals managed to reduce their blood pressure (BP) < 140/90 mmHg, otherwise it was categorised as poor control. Data were analysed using bivariate analysis and hierarchical logistic regression.

Results: 55% of the participants had poor BP control. A significantly higher frequency of poor BP self-monitoring was observed in individuals with poor control compared to their counterparts. Poor self-monitoring and a sedentary lifestyle were associated with higher odds of poor control (OR: 5.33, 95% CI: 1.78 – 15.93; p < 0.01, and OR: 4.69, 95% CI: 1.00 – 22.25; p < 0.05, respectively). No significant association was observed between other variables and hypertension control.

Conclusion: Successful BP control for hypertensive individuals may require interventions and strategies that assist with improving BP self-monitoring skills and increasing physical activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypertension
• blood pressure control
• lifestyle
• self-management
• self-monitoring

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the valuable support of the Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast University Hospital, Griffith University, and all individuals who assisted with data collection, and participated in this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.