Resumen

VAZQUEZ MACHADO, Andrés. Psychosocial risk factors of hypertension in a Venezuelan community . MEDISAN [online]. 2014, vol.18, n.2, pp.211-218. ISSN 1029-3019.

Introduction: hypertension constitutes an important health problem. Approximately 7,6 million of premature deaths and 92 million of years adjusted to life due to disabilities are attributed to this disorder. Objective: to identify the association of hypertension with some psychosocial risk factors. Methods: a cross-sectional study of 197 patients, (74 with hypertension and 123 without it) who visited the doctor's office UD-140 of the urbanization 25 de marzo, belonging to Caroní municipality, in the State of Bolivar, Venezuela was carried out from January, 2004 to November, 2005. The demographic variables, personal and family history of psychiatric disorders, as well as vital events affecting the patients were identified. In the statistical analysis the percentage, the Chi squared test and the relative opportunity were used. Results: women, the age group 55 and more, the primary school level, the housewives and the victims of physical and psychological abuse, or both, prevailed in the series. The hypertensive patients had higher probabilities of having first generation relatives with psychiatric dysfunctions, as well as of suffering physical diseases and of experiencing conflicts with their couples. Conclusions: some demographic variables become stressors associated to hypertension; some vital events are also more probable the cause of stress in hypertensive patients.

Palabras clave : hypertension; psychosocial factors; stress; vital events; Venezuela.

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