Comparative analysis of aggravating risk factors for systemic arterial hypertension between men and women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of risk factors on the exacerbation of systemic arterial hypertension through a principal component analysis between male and female genders in the Brazilian city of Propriá. Methods: Cross-sectional study on risk factors that worsen blood pressure in hypertensive individuals of both genders, using Principal Component Analysis, where 29 variables present in the Brazilian Survey on Surveillance of Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases were aggregated into 11 principal components. Among these variables, information on social determinants, lifestyle (nutrition, physical activity, and deleterious habits), clinical condition, anthropometric measures, medication use, and family history were collected. Data collection was conducted in the homes of the respondents between November 2022 and November 2023, in the morning. Relative and cumulative frequencies, Mann-Whitney test, Principal Component Analysis, and Polynomial Regression were used. Results: 350 hypertensive individuals were interviewed. Men, and especially women, were sensitive to socioeconomic issues as aggravating factors for hypertension 1.53 (95% CI, 1.04-2.26, p=0.003) and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.48-3.57; p=0.000), respectively. Physical inactivity affected women more 1.88 (95% CI, 1.32-2.68; p>0.001). While a diet low in vegetables, legumes, and fruits and high in ultraprocessed foods affected men more 1.56 (95% CI, 1.09-2.23; p=0.014) times more. Conclusion: Social determinants were the main drivers of increased blood pressure, followed by lifestyle, where a lower frequency of physical exercise practice was observed among women and a higher alcohol consumption among men.