New research reveals a notable correlation between heterosexual partners and high blood pressure. Researchers report that if one partner has high blood pressure, then the other often does too.
The study, titled "Spousal Concordance of Hypertension Among Middle‐Aged and Older Heterosexual Couples Around the World: Evidence From Studies of Aging in the United States, England, China, and India" published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, observed a surprising prevalence among older couples. Chihua Li, the senior author, expressed astonishment at the commonality, citing that over 35% of couples aged 50 or older in the U.S. exhibited shared high blood pressure.
Heterosexual Partners May Have Blood Pressure Mirroring Each Other
In the comprehensive study spanning the U.S., England, China, and India, researchers explored the connection between high blood pressure in heterosexual couples.
This investigation, unique in its multinational scope, aimed to understand whether couples sharing common interests, living environments, lifestyles, and health outcomes also shared high blood pressure. The analysis encompassed 3,989 U.S. couples, 1,086 English couples, 6,514 Chinese couples, and 22,389 Indian couples.
The prevalence of both partners having high blood pressure varied across countries: 47% in England, 38% in the U.S., 21% in China, and 20% in India. Wives whose husbands had high blood pressure showed an increased likelihood of high blood pressure, ranging from 9% in the U.S. and England to 26% in China.
Similar associations were observed for husbands in each country, consistent across various demographic factors. Interestingly, despite a lower prevalence of high blood pressure in China and India, the association between couples' blood pressure status was stronger, potentially reflecting the cultural emphasis on familial unity and mutual support.
The study's co-lead author, Peiyi Lu, highlighted the cultural influence on health in collectivist societies like China and India, where couples are expected to depend on and support each other.
The findings underscore the potential for couple-based approaches in high blood pressure diagnosis and management, suggesting strategies like screening, skills training, or joint participation in programs to enhance overall health outcomes.
High Blood Pressure's Lethal Toll Needs Holistic Approach for Spousal Intervention
In 2020, nearly 120,000 deaths were primarily linked to high blood pressure. The American Heart Association's 2023 statistics report that between 2017 to 2020, a significant 46.7% of U.S. adults, totaling 122.4 million, have high blood pressure.
An important revelation among middle-aged and older adults is the heightened likelihood of an individual having hypertension if their spouse also has it. This observation is pivotal given that hypertension remains a predominant modifiable cardiovascular risk factor and continues to be a widespread and inadequately controlled issue globally.
The authors argue that current strategies focused on individual-level hypertension control fall short, suggesting that interventions targeting spouses could prove particularly effective.
Bethany Barone Gibbs, Ph.D., FAHA, underscores the significance of making lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity, stress reduction, or adopting a healthier diet, to lower blood pressure. However, she points out the challenges of sustaining these changes without similar efforts from the spouse or partner.
The findings allude to a more comprehensive approach, considering determinants of hypertension at various levels, including individual, interpersonal, environmental, and policy factors. This holistic strategy is seen as necessary to effectively alleviate the significant global public health burden posed by hypertension.
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