%0 Journal Article
%T Physiological, Behavioral, and Dietary Characteristics Associated with Hypertension among Kenyan Defence Forces
%A Victor Mundan
%A Margaret Muiva
%A Samuel Kimani
%J ISRN Preventive Medicine
%D 2013
%R 10.5402/2013/740143
%X Background. Hypertensive disease is increasing in developing countries due to nutritional transition and westernization. Hypertensive disease among Kenya military may be lower because of health-focused recruitment, physical activities, routine checkups, and health awareness and management, but the disease has been increasing. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine physiological, behavioral, and dietary characteristics associated with hypertension among Kenyan military. Methods. A cross-sectional study involving 340 participants was conducted at Armed Forces Memorial Hospital. Participants' history, risk factors assessment, and dietary patterns were obtained by structured questionnaire, while physiological and anthropometric parameters were measured. Results. Hypertensive participants were likely to have higher age, physiological, and anthropometric measurements, and they participated in peace missions. Daily alcohol and smoking, frequent red meat, and inadequate fruits and vegetables were associated with hypertension. Conclusions. The findings mimic the main risk factors and characteristics for hypertensive disease in developed countries whose lifestyle adoption is happening fast in low and middle-income countries. Whether or not prediction rules and/or risk scores may identify at-risk individuals for preventive strategy for targeted behavioral interventions among this population require investigation. 1. Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), among them hypertensive disease, is causing significant morbidity and mortality in adult population globally [1]. Hypertensive disease is considered in case of untreated systolic blood pressure (BP) of greater than or equal to 140£¿mmHg and/or diastolic BP of greater than or equal to 90£¿mmHg or one being on antihypertensive medication [2]. The disease is among the leading causes of death and disability [3, 4], and its prevalence is increasing worldwide [5] particularly in developing countries as a result of nutritional transition [1] and westernization. Hypertensive disease is a significant contributor [6, 7] to the increasing incidence and mortality as a result of CVD globally. Sub-Saharan Africa appears to bear the heaviest burden of this preventable disease as an emerging threat; for instance, in Cameroon, the prevalence rose from 8.3% in 1994 to 20.8% in 2004 among the adult urban dwellers [8]. In Kenya, available data shows that the disease is gaining momentum and has been identified as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in urban population amidst high prevalence of communicable
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.preventive.medicine/2013/740143/