Professional paper
The relationship between somatic and psychosocial factors and systemic blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive workers
K. Čatipović-Veselica
; Opća bolnica Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska
A. Merčep
; Dom zdravlja, Valpovo, Hrvatska
I. Vizner-Lovrić
; Opća bolnica Osijek, Osijek, Hrvatska
D. Burić
; Dom zdravlja, Valpovo, Hrvatska
Abstract
A cohort of 900 workers aged 35 - 59 years underwent clinical electrographical and psychological examinations. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 15.2%. Family history of hypertension was positive in 87 (63.5%) hypertensive and 41 (29.9%) normotensive workers (P < 0.01). The mean body index and the mean resting heart rate were significantly higher in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group (P<0.01). In the former group 96 (70.1%) persons and in the latter 89 (65%) persons belonged to type A behaviour (P> 0.05). No significant difference in the intensity of eight basic emotions was found between the hypertensive and normotensive persons (P> 0.05). According to multiple regression analysis the most predictive variables of systolic blood pressure in both groups were age and resting heart rate. The two variables were more significant predictors in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group. The most predictive variable of diastolic blood pressure among the normotensive workers was body index. For the hypertensive workers this variable was not a significant predictor of diastolic blood pressure. The eight basic emotions according to Plutchik and the life need satisfaction were not significant predictors of systemic blood pressure either with the hypertensive or normotensive workers.
Keywords
arterial hypertension; diastolic blood pressure; clinical examination; family history of hypertension; psychological examination; systolic blood pressure; heart rate; body mass; influence of age
Hrčak ID:
148862
URI
Publication date:
25.3.1992.
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