Socioeconomic disparities in income, education and geographic location for hypertension among Thai adults: Results from the National Socioeconomic Survey

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HT) has been one of the leading global risk factors for health and the leading cause of death in Thailand for decades. The influence of socioeconomic factors on HT has been varied and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the association between socioeconomic determinants and HT in Thailand. Methods: This study used data from the National Socioeconomic Survey, a cross-sectional study that was conducted by the National Statistical Office of Thailand in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. In our analysis, data were collected on gender, age, marital status, smoking status, education, status of work, occupation, current liability (short-term debt), household monthly income, residential area, region and previously diagnosed HT by a physician. Results: The odds of having HT were significantly higher among those who had household monthly income, education, residential area and region. The participants who had monthly income of <10001 baht (2005: AOR = 3.19, 95%CI:1.47 - 6.92; 2006: AOR 2.53, 95%CI:1.37 - 4.69; 2007: AOR = 3.35, 95%CI: 1.97 - 7.00), were living in Bangkok compared with the Northeast region (2005: AOR = 1.72, 95%CI:1.37 - 2.17; 2006: AOR = 2.44, 95%CI: 1.89 - 3.13; 2007: AOR = 2.63, 95%CI 2.08 - 3.45), lived as an urban resident (2005: AOR= 1.32, 95%CI: 1.12 - 1.56; 2006: AOR= 1.21, 95%CI: 1.02 - 1.43; 2007: AOR= 1.47, 95%CI: 1.18 - 1.62), and finished primary education (2005: AOR =1.21, 95%CI: 1.03 - 1.43; 2006: AOR= 1.23, 95%CI: 1.04 - 1.46; 2007: AOR= 1.18, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.38) when controlling for other covariates. Conclusion: This study indicated that socioeconomic disparity has an influence on HT. Those with low educational attainment, low income, lived in urban regions, and were metropolitan residents (Bangkok) were vulnerable to HT.

Keywords: Hypertension; National Socioeconomic Survey; Thailand; education; geographic disparities; income; socioeconomic disparity.

Figure 1.. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for characteristics associated with hypertension in participants of the National Socioeconomic Survey for the years 2005–2007.