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

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.