In a recently published study within the Journal of Cardiovascular CareResearchers examined relationships between five lifestyle behaviors from Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) frame and hypertension.
The cross-sectional study analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Data from 20,912 adults to look at the association between really useful lifestyle behaviors and hypertension.
Results showed a high prevalence of hypertension (52.7%) and identified significant independent associations between hypertension and modifiable health behaviors. Adherence to healthier LE8 behaviors was related to a lower risk of hypertension, although causality and cardiovascular outcomes were in a roundabout way assessed.
background
Hypertension, commonly known as hypertension, is a chronic disease characterised by persistently increased blood force against artery partitions. Since it has no obvious symptoms, it is commonly called the “silent killer” and is strongly related to heart problems and an increased risk of mortality.
Although pharmacological treatments are widely used, increasing evidence, including recommendations from the International Society of Hypertension, supports lifestyle modification as the primary treatment strategy.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently expanded its cardiovascular health approach from Easy 7 to LE8 to incorporate sleep health. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the independent effects of those lifestyle domains using nationally representative data.
In regards to the study
This study used a multistage probability sampling design across 4 NHANES cycles involving 20,912 non-pregnant adults aged 18 years or older to look at associations between lifestyle behaviors and hypertension prevalence.
Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥130 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥80 mm Hg, self-reported diagnosis or use of antihypertensive medication.
Predictors were categorized in response to LE8 recommendations and included body mass index (BMI), sleep duration, physical activity (P.A), smoking status and weight-reduction plan quality assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015).
Weighted multivariable logistic regression models controlling for sociodemographic and potential confounding aspects were used.
Study results
Overall, 52.7% of participants had hypertension. The prevalence was higher in men (55.5%) than in women (50.0%) and was higher in non-Hispanic black participants than in participants of other racial groups.
4 of the five LE8 behaviors were independently related to the next risk of hypertension. Chubby individuals were 1.65 times more likely and people with obesity were 3.07 times more likely in comparison with normal weight individuals.
Participants who didn’t meet AHA physical activity guidelines had a 32% higher risk of hypertension. Each current and former smokers also had higher odds in comparison with never smokers.
Sleep duration showed a U-shaped relationship, with each short and long sleep related to the next risk of hypertension. This association was only significant in women, although further research is required to verify this finding.
Overall, associations were consistent across subgroups, although smoking was not significantly related to hypertension amongst Hispanic participants.
Food regimen quality measured by HEI-2015 was not significantly related to hypertension. Nonetheless, lower sodium intake was independently related to lower odds.
Conclusions
The outcomes support the importance of modifiable lifestyle aspects within the prevention and treatment of hypertension. The dearth of association with overall weight-reduction plan quality, in contrast to the sodium findings, suggests that specific nutrients can have more direct effects on blood pressure than composite dietary values.
These findings may help develop diverse, culturally responsive interventions targeting impactful behaviors equivalent to weight management and sleep hygiene. Nonetheless, limitations include the cross-sectional design, reliance on self-reported data, and potential residual confounding.
