Correlations among Blood Pressures, Dietary Intakes and Other Environmental Factors in Korean Adult Males

성인 남성의 혈압과 식이섭취 실태 및 기타 환경 요인과의 관계에 대한 사례연구

The present survey was designed to investigate correlations among blood pressure, nutritional intakes, and various environmental factors in Korean adult males, and to observe the difference in dietary intakes between hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. Two hundred forty-three adult men from Seoul and rural areas were interviewed about their food intakes, dietary patterns, food habits, and general environmental factors from December 20, 1982 to February 15, 1983. Their dietary intakes were surveyed by means of 24-hour recall diet method. Dietary score card was used in order to evaluate the quality of routine diet of the subject. Variables of environmental factors and factors related to hypertension were expressed as percentage, and the differences in nutrient intake and food score of each sub-group were examined by means of t-test. Correlation of all the variables were analyzed by Pearsons Correlation Coefficient. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. 38% of the subjects were between the ages of 40~49, and about one-half of the subjects were middle or high school graduates. 28% of the subjects earned 210, 000~350, 000 Won per month, and income distribution was almost identical to that of the urban population of Korea. 2. There was more overweight or obese found in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive subjects. About 40% of the hypertensive patients reported a family history of hypertension, and their knowledge about hypertension was rather poor, but slightly better than the normotensive subjects. The patient group had less adherence to smoking and alcohol compared with the normotensive subjects, but no difference was observed in coffee drinking. The mean value of the blood pressure for the normotensive subjects was 127/86mmHg and 175/109mmHg for the hypertensive group. 3. Nutrient intake for the hypertensive group was lower for most of nutrients than in the healthy group. Hypertensive patients on diet therapy consumed less calories and carbohydrates compared with those who do not follow diet therapy. 4. There was no difference intake of these food groups between patients and the healthy group. Food score was strongly related to consumption of animal protein, saturated fats, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Vitamin C, which are prone to be deficient in the typical Korean diet. 5. Blood pressure had a strong positive correlation with age, body weight, and socioeconomic level. In addition, monthly income was positively related with age and education level. 6. Three was a positive relationship between blood pressure and consumption of vegetable protein, and a negative relationship with consumption of Calories, Carbohydrates, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Niacin, and Vitamin C. Animal protein intake increased as income and education levels increased, but this tendency was opposite for carbohydrates. In summary, nutritional intakes are strongly correlated with various environmental factors and the level of blood pressure. There was no difference between normotensive and hypertensive subjects with respect to the quality of food consumed except restricting energy and carbohydrate in the patient group.