Background Few studies have investigated the association between religion and health behaviors in Korea, where various religions coexist. The present study aimed to investigate the association between religion and health behaviors among primary care patients in Korea.
Methods We analyzed data from the Family Cohort Study in Primary Care. Among the 1,040 participants in the cohort, 973 of those who had reported their religion were included in the analysis. Participants completed standardized questionnaires that included religious status and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, smoking status, drinking status, and dietary habits. The association between religion and health behaviors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models.
Results Among the 973 participants, 345 (35.5%) were Christian, 153 (15.7%) were Roman Catholic, 308 (31.7%) were Buddhist, and 163 (16.8%) did not have any religion. Compared with those without a religion, the odds ratio (OR) for vigorous physical activity (OR, 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.28) increased, and that for binge drinking (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46–0.78) and problematic drinking (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35–0.99) decreased among participants with a religion. Compared with those without a religion, Catholics were more likely to engage in vigorous physical activity (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.31–3.67), whereas Christians were less likely to engage in heavy (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30–0.84), binge (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22–0.54), and problematic drinking (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25–0.86). Smoking, meal regularity, and breakfast consumption were not associated with religion.
Conclusion The status of drinking and physical activities were different according to religion. As religion is one of the psychosocial characteristics of patients, knowing patients’ religion can be helpful for primary physicians.
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Background Hypertension is a major contributor to the global disease burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with adherence to antihypertensive medication.
Methods From August 2012 to February 2015, we recruited 1,523 Korean patients with hypertension who visited family physicians. The study was conducted in 24 facilities located in urban and metropolitan areas. Of these facilities, two were primary care clinics and 22 were level 2 or 3 hospitals. Adherence was assessed using the pill count method; a cut-off value of 80% was used as the criterion for good adherence. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were compared between the adherent and nonadherent groups using the chi-square test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed with medication adherence as the outcome variable.
Results Of the 1,523 patients, 1,245 (81.7%) showed good adherence to antihypertensive medication. In the multivariate logistic analysis, age ≥65 years, exercise, treatment in a metropolitan-located hospital, being on ≥2 classes of antihypertensive medication and concomitant medication for diabetes, and a family history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases were associated with good adherence. Patients who had a habit of high salt intake were less adherent to medication.
Conclusion Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications, concomitant medication, and exercise were associated with good adherence to antihypertensive medication, and high salt intake was associated with poor adherence to antihypertensive medication. These factors should be considered to improve hypertension control.
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