[Relation of somatic and psychosocial factors to systemic pressure in hypertensive and normotensive workers]

Abstract

A cohort of 900 workers aged 35-59 years underwent clinical, electrographical and psychological examinations. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 15.2%. Family history of hypertension was positive in 87 (63.5%) hypertensive and 41 (29.9%) normotensive workers (P less than 0.01). The mean body index and the mean resting heart rate were significantly higher in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group (P less than 0.01). In the former group 96 (70.1%) persons and in the latter 89 (65%) persons belonged to type A behavior (P greater than 0.05). No significant difference in the intensity of eight basic emotions was found between the hypertensive and normotensive persons (P greater than 0.05). According to multiple regression analysis the most predictive variables of systolic blood pressure in both groups were age and resting heart rate. The two variables were more significant predictors in the hypertensive than in the normotensive group. The most predictive variable of diastolic blood pressure among the normotensive workers was body index. For the hypertensive workers this variable was not a significant predictor of diastolic blood pressure. The eight basic emotions according to Plutchik and the life need satisfaction were not significant predictors of systemic blood pressure either with the hypertensive or normotensive workers.