In a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers have uncovered an intriguing pattern:
If one partner in a heterosexual couple has high blood pressure, there’s a good chance the other does, too.
This discovery spans across countries and cultures, indicating a common trend in older couples.
Senior author Chihua Li, Dr.P.H., a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, expressed surprise at this finding.
The study observed that in places like the U.S., England, China, and India, a significant percentage of older couples (above 50 years) both have high blood pressure. For example, in the U.S., this was seen in more than 35% of such couples.
Unlike previous studies that focused on single-country settings or used smaller samples, this research aimed to understand the prevalence of shared high blood pressure in couples across both high- and middle-income countries.
Jithin Sam Varghese, Ph.D., assistant research professor at the Emory Global Diabetes Research Center and co-lead author of the study, highlighted the uniqueness of this cross-national study.
The researchers were curious to see if married couples, who often share similar interests, environments, lifestyles, and health outcomes, also shared high blood pressure.
The study involved analyzing blood pressure measurements of thousands of couples – 3,989 from the U.S., 1,086 from England, 6,514 from China, and 22,389 from India.
The results showed that the prevalence of both partners having high blood pressure was about 47% in England, 38% in the U.S., 21% in China, and 20% in India.
Furthermore, the likelihood of a wife having high blood pressure was significantly higher if her husband had it, and this trend was consistent across all countries studied. It was more pronounced in China and India, where the study noted cultural factors might play a role in these shared health outcomes.
The findings suggest that in collectivist societies like China and India, where family unity and mutual support are deeply valued, couples may influence each other’s health more significantly.
Peiyi Lu, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow in epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and another co-lead author, pointed out that couples are expected to support each other emotionally and instrumentally in these societies, which could mean their health conditions are more closely linked.
These results could have important implications for diagnosing and managing high blood pressure. Dr. Li suggested that couple-based approaches could be effective. This might include couple-based screenings, skills training, or joint participation in health programs.
Such approaches could capitalize on the shared lifestyle and environmental factors that couples experience, potentially leading to more effective management of high blood pressure.
In summary, this study provides compelling evidence that high blood pressure is not just an individual concern but can be a shared health issue within couples. This opens up new avenues for couple-focused health strategies that could benefit millions worldwide.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of the American Heart Association.
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