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Social support and blood pressure: a cross-sectional study
Poster Abstracts
Social support and blood pressure: a cross-sectional study Puchao Lei, Yangyang Wu, Ruixue Ye, Thankam S Sunil, Huan Zhou
Abstract
Background Although the general relationship between social support and hypertension is known, relationships between specific social support factors, groups, and blood pressures remains unclear. We used a quantile-specific approach to understand these specific associations, potentially improving programme targeting. Methods We used 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data to measure social support for people aged 45 years and older on three dimensions: family support (living with spouse, number of children), community support (existence of community organisations for older people), and public support (participant has medical insurance or not). We used quantile regression models (QR) to account for potential heterogeneous associations between social support and blood pressures— systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)— at different points of the conditional blood pressure distribution,controlled for sex, age, smoking, drinking, education, location, and body-mass index. We also stratified the analyses by sex (male vs female) and age (middle-aged [45–59 years]; older people [≥60 years]). Findings Out of 8960 respondents, 1683 (19%) reported hypertension. The mean SBP was 124·61 mm Hg (SD 18·38) and the mean DBP was 73·89 mm Hg (11·24). The ordinary least squares (OLS) model showed that lower SBP and DBP was associated with living with spouse and having community organisations for older people, respectively. Lower DBP was also associated with having more children. However, the QR models showed that these associations vary across the conditional quantiles of blood pressure distribution. Social support had a greater effect in the higher blood pressure quantile. Relevant social support varied by group: living with their spouse was more relevant for older people, while accessible community organisations were more relevant for middle-aged people. Social support was linked with blood pressure for men more than women.
Published Online October 18, 2019 West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (P Lei MPH, Y Wu MPH, R Ye PhD, Prof H Zhou PhD); and University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA (Prof T S Sunil PhD) Correspondence to: Prof Huan Zhou, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China [email protected]
Interpretation Social support was more important for people with higher blood pressure. Both middle-aged and older people—especially men—who do not live with their spouses may be particularly susceptible to hypertension. Participation in community-based organisations may improve blood pressure for these individuals. Funding None. Contributors YW analysed the data. PL wrote the Abstract. RY, TSS, and HZ modified the abstract. All authors have seen and approved the final version of the Abstract for publication. Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests.
www.thelancet.com
51
Social support and blood pressure: a cross-sectional study Puchao Lei, Yangyang Wu, Ruixue Ye, Thankam S Sunil, Huan Zhou
Abstract
Background Although the general relationship between social support and hypertension is known, relationships between specific social support factors, groups, and blood pressures remains unclear. We used a quantile-specific approach to understand these specific associations, potentially improving programme targeting. Methods We used 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data to measure social support for people aged 45 years and older on three dimensions: family support (living with spouse, number of children), community support (existence of community organisations for older people), and public support (participant has medical insurance or not). We used quantile regression models (QR) to account for potential heterogeneous associations between social support and blood pressures— systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)— at different points of the conditional blood pressure distribution,controlled for sex, age, smoking, drinking, education, location, and body-mass index. We also stratified the analyses by sex (male vs female) and age (middle-aged [45–59 years]; older people [≥60 years]). Findings Out of 8960 respondents, 1683 (19%) reported hypertension. The mean SBP was 124·61 mm Hg (SD 18·38) and the mean DBP was 73·89 mm Hg (11·24). The ordinary least squares (OLS) model showed that lower SBP and DBP was associated with living with spouse and having community organisations for older people, respectively. Lower DBP was also associated with having more children. However, the QR models showed that these associations vary across the conditional quantiles of blood pressure distribution. Social support had a greater effect in the higher blood pressure quantile. Relevant social support varied by group: living with their spouse was more relevant for older people, while accessible community organisations were more relevant for middle-aged people. Social support was linked with blood pressure for men more than women.
Published Online October 18, 2019 West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (P Lei MPH, Y Wu MPH, R Ye PhD, Prof H Zhou PhD); and University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA (Prof T S Sunil PhD) Correspondence to: Prof Huan Zhou, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China [email protected]
Interpretation Social support was more important for people with higher blood pressure. Both middle-aged and older people—especially men—who do not live with their spouses may be particularly susceptible to hypertension. Participation in community-based organisations may improve blood pressure for these individuals. Funding None. Contributors YW analysed the data. PL wrote the Abstract. RY, TSS, and HZ modified the abstract. All authors have seen and approved the final version of the Abstract for publication. Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests.
www.thelancet.com
51