PREVALENCE OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS RELATED TO HYPERTENSION IN 3 BLOOD-PRESSURE TREATMENT GROUPS - THE MINNESOTA HEART HEALTH-PROGRAM

Background. Lifestyle modifications have the potential to bring blood pressure under control or reduce the need for potentially harmful medi cations and, most importantly, to prevent high blood pressure from dev eloping. Evaluation of the contribution of primary and secondary preve ntion efforts requires monitoring risk factors for hypertension among those with and without a history of the condition. Methods. This study in the Minnesota Heart Health Program describes the prevalence of the major lifestyle risk factors for hypertension and other cardiovascula r disease. Data are from men and women age 25-74 over a period of abou t 10 years (1980-1990). The study involved six communities, three rece ived an education intervention, and three were used as comparison grou ps. Irrespective of observed blood pressure values, risk factor levels and time trends are compared among persons taking antihypertensive me dication, persons with a history of hypertension but not currently med icated, and a general population, nonhypertensive group who report the y were never told they were hypertensive. Analysis was done at the lev el of the city rather than the individual and involved a subset of the cross-sectional survey data. Results. Significant differences were fo und between groups for knowledge about and control of high blood press ure, for body mass index, intent to lose weight, physical activity, so dium and fat intake, and total serum cholesterol level. No differences were found in intent to increase physical activity, in alcohol intake , or smoking prevalence. A group by time interaction was found only fo r frequent use of table salt and percentage of total kilocalories from fat. Most time trends were significant and in a favorable direction f or prevention. Means for all groups indicated failure to meet national recommendations for dietary sodium, percentage of calories from fat, total cholesterol level, smoking, and possibly exercise. Conclusions. Efforts to prevent, treat, and control hypertension will require more intensive intervention. Continued monitoring of the knowledge and beha viors of hypertensives and the general population is needed to inform primary and secondary prevention efforts, especially in more diverse p opulations than this study represents. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.