Factors Associated with Hypertension among Elderly in Medan, Indonesia

Background: Hypertension or high blood pressure is often called the silent killer. World Health Organization reported that hypertension is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths (12.8% of the total of all deaths). Prevalence of hypertension in Medan ranked the third in Indonesia in all ages with the mortality of 6.8%. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with hyper­tension among elderly in Medan, Indonesia.Subjects and Method: This was an analytic observational study with a case-control design. The population was all elderly people who visited community health centre in Medan, North Sumatera, in 2016. A sample of 124 elderly was selected for this study by purposive sampling, consisting of 62 hypertensive and 62 normotensive elderly. The dependent variable was hypertension. The independent variables were physical activity, obesity, and family hisyory of hypertension. Data on blood pressure were measured by sphygmomanometer. The other data were collected by questionnaire. The data were analyzed by a multiple logistic regression.Results: Obesity (OR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.05 to 5.87), low physical activity (OR = 2.56; 95% CI= 1.06 to 6.17), and family history of hypertension (OR = 5.74; 95% CI = 2.44 to 13.46) increased the risk of hypertension.Conclusion: Obesity, low physical activity, and family history of hypertension increase the risk of hypertension.Keywords: hypertension, elderly, risk factors Correspondence: Santa Ulina Apriani Situngkir. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Universitas 21, Medan 20115, North Sumatera, Indonesia. Email: situngkir_29@yahoo.com. Mobile: +6281370430295.Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health (2019), 4(3): 215-221https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2019.04.03.0