Abstract
In order to investigate dietary risk factors for hypertension in th elderly, dietary intakes and dietary habits of 405 elderly subjects, aged 60-94, were assessed by the questionnaire, anthropometric measurement and a 24-hour dietary recall. The prevalence of definite (>95mmHg for diastolic or>160mmHg for systeolic blood pressue) and borderline(90-95mmHg for diastolic or 140-160mmHg for systolic blood pressure) hypertensive subjects 33.3% and 19.3%, respectively. The distribution of the subjects for Body Mass Index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, and alcohol consumption were significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p<0.05). The distribution of the subjects for smoking, exercise, and preference of salty food were not significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p>0.05). From the generalized logistic regression analysis of the risk factors for the hypertension, the subjects with over 27 of BMI had significantly higher risk of hypertension. Alcohol consumption and preference of salty food were significant risk factors of hypertension in the elderly. Dietary risk factors for the hypertension that had significant relationship to the hypertension were intakes of potassium, calcium, phosphate, sodium, vitamin B1, niacin, and folate. There was no significant difference of consumption frequencies of food and dish among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p>0.05). The amount of intakes for cereals and grain product, bean and their products, eggs were significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p<0.05). In summary, the amount of dietary intakes to hypertension in elderly population. Longitudinal studies for dietary risk factors on incidence of hypertension are needed in general population, especially in the elderly.
