Hawa Abu1, Hanan Aboumatar2, Kathryn A Carson3, Robert Goldberg1, Lisa A Cooper4. 1. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. 2. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 4. James F. Fries Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine. Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional survey of 385 adults with hypertension treated at 2 primary care clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We used an 11-item measure to assess hypertension knowledge and obtained self-reports on dietary changes, engagement in aerobic exercise and medication adherence. RESULTS: Approximately 85% of patients properly identified high blood pressure, but more than two-thirds were unaware that hypertension lasts a lifetime once diagnosed; one-third were unaware that hypertension could lead to renal disease. Patients with low hypertension knowledge were less likely to reduce their salt intake (OR=0.44 [95% CI: 0.24-0.72]) and eat less to lose weight (OR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.87]) than patients with high hypertension knowledge. CONCLUSION: In general, patients were knowledgeable about hypertension, but most were unaware that hypertension is a lifelong condition and could lead to kidney disease. High knowledge of hypertension was associated with healthy lifestyle practices including eating less to lose weight and dietary salt reduction. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Intensifying education strategies to improve patients' knowledge of hypertension may enhance their engagement in heart healthy lifestyle practices for optimal blood pressure control.
OBJECTIVE: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional survey of 385 adults with hypertension treated at 2 primary care clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We used an 11-item measure to assess hypertension knowledge and obtained self-reports on dietary changes, engagement in aerobic exercise and medication adherence. RESULTS: Approximately 85% of patients properly identified high blood pressure, but more than two-thirds were unaware that hypertension lasts a lifetime once diagnosed; one-third were unaware that hypertension could lead to renal disease. Patients with low hypertension knowledge were less likely to reduce their salt intake (OR=0.44 [95% CI: 0.24-0.72]) and eat less to lose weight (OR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.87]) than patients with high hypertension knowledge. CONCLUSION: In general, patients were knowledgeable about hypertension, but most were unaware that hypertension is a lifelong condition and could lead to kidney disease. High knowledge of hypertension was associated with healthy lifestyle practices including eating less to lose weight and dietary salt reduction. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Intensifying education strategies to improve patients' knowledge of hypertension may enhance their engagement in heart healthy lifestyle practices for optimal blood pressure control.
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