250590 Hypertension, medication, and sleep disorder: Japan and US comparison under the different healthcare system

Monday, October 31, 2011: 1:42 PM

Tetsuji Yamada, PhD , Department of Economics, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ
Chia-Ching Chen, MA, MS, EdD, CHES , Department of Epidemiology & Community Health, New York Medical College School of Health Sciences & Practice, Valhalla, NY
Shijian Li, PhD , MSW , School of Medicine, New York University, New York City, NY
Kirk Groomes, MPPA , Department of Public Policy & Administration, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ
Objective: High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke so it's important to know how to lower high blood pressure. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between antihypertensive drug uses and systolic blood pressure, and sleep disorder of age 60 and over in the US and Japan with the diagnostic difference under the different healthcare system.

Methodology: The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Japanese Medical Care Survey were analyzed for this study. To investigate the relationship between antihypertensive drug uses and systolic blood pressure, and sleep disorder, we use the multivariate regression to examine influence of generic and bland drug use differences, length of medication, and quantity of use on sleep disorder and on hypertension. We also include patients' lifestyle and obesity level such as smoking, drinking, and BMI.

Findings/Results: The antihypertensive drug use is positively associated with present sleep disorder, and negatively related to a level of systolic blood pressure. There are no significant differences between generic and bland drug use. Patient's BMI level, smoking, and drinking are positively associated with the quantity of medication in both countries.

Conclusions/Recommendations: This side-effect has an important implication to policy guideline and physician's treatments decision. A reduction of smoking, drinking, and BMI level is more important than the antihypertensive drug use for patients with high blood pressure and its prevention in both countries.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between antihypertensive drug uses and systolic blood pressure, and sleep disorder. Discuss how the changes in lifestyle by a reduction of smoking, drinking, and BMI level are more important to reduce high blood pressure and its prevention than the antihypertensive drug use.

Keywords: Aging, Community Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I am involved in the study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.