Abstract

This study analyzed the physical indices, food habits and nutrient intakes of patients with hypertension, to provide better research data for the prevention and the cure for disease as well as basic data for nutrition education. The subjects were 44 patients who visited the general hospital, located in Daegu, to receive hypertension treatment The lifestyle, food habit, nutrient intakes, anthropometric measurements, body fat and blood pressure were measured as main indices. By the BMI, $72.8\%$ of the patients were over weight or obesity $(>23\;kg/m^2)$. In the male group, the WHR tended to increase according to the BMI (p<0.05). In the female group, the body fat tended to increase according to the BMI (p<0.05). The group with more monthly income showed lower systolic blood pressure than the group with smaller monthly income (p<0.05). The scores about food habits concerning balanced diet and preference for salt were low, which implied that food habits of subjects were not desirable. The intakes of riboflavin and calcium didn't meet the RDA requirements. Especially, the lack of calcium was more ap~nt in the female patients than the male ones. Despite this, they had more than enough protein, vitamin C, and iron. The physical indices according to blood pressure revealed that the group of higher blood pressure showed greater WHR (p<0.001). The male group with higher systolic blood pressure showed greater BMI than one with lower systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). As for nutrient intakes according to blood pressure, the group with higher blood pressure had more sodium and iron than one with lower blood pressure (p<0.05). The patients with hypertension tended to be more overweight or obese, preferred salty foods, and were in an unbalanced state of nutrient intakes. Thus more systematic and ongoing measures should be pursued to take care of patients with hypertension.

Keywords

• Hypertension;
• BMI;
• food habits;
• nutrient intakes