Social Determinants of hypertension in adults

Hypertension is a major health problem and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Hypertension is defined as having a blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 mmHg, with a consensus across medical guidelines (1). This means the systolic reading (the pressure as the heart pumps blood around the body) is over 140 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) and/or the diastolic reading (as the heart relaxes and refills with blood) is over 90 mmHg. Hypertension is now firmly established as a public health problem. It is considered as disabling disease in many countries, and for this reason, the investigations for the social risk factors that are associated with this disorder are very important. Aim: To establish the social factors of adult’s hypertension and its preventive measures. Method: To achieve the aim of the present study descriptive crosssectional study design was adopted, medical records of 100 patients who had a hypertension (cases) were taken in Intifadhat Alaqsa primary health care center /Basrah/Iraq. They were evaluated between December and February, 2018. The data was mainly obtained from cases by the investigator through direct interview procedure. Result: The mean ages of cases was (51±11.97). The prevalence of hypertensive patients is about (78.5%) in those age groups more than 40 years old with and the percentage of hypertension is increased as the age increased. This study showed that the main age group at which the cases were diagnosed with hypertension (40-49years) (47%). Regarding the gender, male sex is more common than female sex in the distribution of cases of hypertension; male: female ratio about 3;1; with no significant relation between male gender and hypertension as a result of gender matching for cases and controls. Married status may not have subsequent development of hypertension. In hypertensive cases, the distribution of the educational level of the studied population are relevant. In this work, type of  occupation is distributed highly especially manuals type (partially skilled occupations and unskilled). Currently smokers history appeared to of highly results in those who developed hypertension. Family history of HTN was recorded in highly proportion of hypertensive cases, among people in the sample study, those classified as stressed persons appeared to have HTN. In this work, among the social context factors are founded to promote the development of hypertension. Unhealthy life style history appeared in the development of hypertension cases. A highly percentage of hypertension cases with a Past medical history was founded. Conclusion: Hypertension has become one of the major health problems in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and is associated with several etiological causes and risk factors. There is some strategy to prevent and control hypertension in the health plans of most (if not all) the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region. In addition, there is a great lack of quantitative and qualitative researches and studies on hearing loss. This creates the need for affective action, either to study factors contributing to the occurrence of hearing loss or to establish programs to control it. In order to achieve this, following recommendations should be considered. Age more than 45 years old was highly associated with development of hypertension. males’ sex is more common than females’ sex in the distribution of cases of hypertension in a ratio about 2:1. In this work, partially skilled occupations, Currently and passively cigarettes smokers, Family history of hypertension, type A personality, presence of life stressors, economic factors carried a high percentage in cases with hypertension.