Increased Body Mass Index and Hypertension: An Unbreakable Bond

BACKGROUND: Adherence with lifestyle recommendations is low among hypertensive patients. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension among the Greek urban population and to examine how lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics differ between already known hypertensive and the rest of the population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 1,060 participants (mean age 47.1 ± 16.9 (mean ± 1(st)andard deviation), 52.7% females). Sociodemographic characteristics, health risk factors, and medical history were involved. Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) was calculated, according to reported height and weight. Parametric tests and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to identify whether socio-demographic characteristics and health risk factors differed between known hypertensive and the rest of the population. RESULTS: Already known hypertensives were 179 (101 females-78 males). The prevalence of known hypertension was 16.9% (18.1% in females and 15.6% in males). In multivariate analysis, known hypertensives were more likely to have advanced age (P < 0,001, OR = 1.101, 95%CI 1.081–1.121) and increased BMI (P < 0,001, OR = 1.138, 95%CI 1.085–1.194). Moreover, they had a higher probability of suffering from other cardiovascular diseases or sharing other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Among Greek urban population, almost one to six adults knows to suffer from hypertension. In spite the recommendations, patients who were aware of their illness have increased BMI compared with the rest of the population.