Table 2

 Characteristics of hypertensive cases compared with normotensive participants

MenWomen
Hypertensive (n = 142)Normotensive (n = 284)p ValueHypertensive (n = 61)Normotensive (n = 122)p Value
SD, standard deviation; PD, psychological demand; DL, decision latitude; +, high level; −, low level.
*Men, three glasses or more per day; women, one glass or more per day.
†Less than two hours per week.
Body mass index (kg/m2) (SD)26.9 (3.5)25.0 (3.1)<0.000126.1 (5.1)23.5 (3.6)0.001
    BMI <25 kg/m2, n (%)39 (27.5)154 (54.3)<0.000129 (47.6)85 (69.7)0.001
    30 kg/m2 > BMI ⩾25 kg/m279 (55.6)110 (38.7)21 (34.4)32 (26.2)
    BMI ⩾30 kg/m224 (16.9)20 (7.0)11 (18.0)5 (4.1)
Smokers (⩾1 cig/day), n (%)47 (33.1)105 (37.0)0.43121 (34.3)29 (23.8)0.127
Alcohol*, n (%)24 (16.9)35 (12.3)0.19712 (19.7)11 (9.0)0.040
Physical inactivity†, n (%)77 (54.2)167 (58.8)0.36848 (78.7)91 (74.6)0.511
Occupation, n (%)
    Executives22 (15.5)39 (13.7)0.1666 (9.9)17 (13.9)0.352
    Middle executives45 (31.7)107 (37.7)13 (21.3)33 (27.1)
    Employees9 (6.3)31 (10.9)31 (50.8)60 (49.2)
    Workers66 (46.5)107 (37.7)11 (18.0)12 (9.8)
Educational level, n (%)
    ⩾12 years22 (15.5)53 (18.7)0.2162 (3.3)24 (19.7)0.009
    7–11 years108 (76.1)194 (68.3)42 (68.8)74 (60.6)
    ⩽6 years12 (8.4)37 (13.0)17 (27.9)24 (19.7)
Occupational hazards, n (%)
    Physical exertion80/139 (57.5)154/268 (57.5)0.98619/60 (31.7)31/118 (26.3)0.449
    Shift work38/142 (26.8)76/284 (26.8)1.0005/61 (8.2)11/121 (9.1)0.841
    Job insecurity14/140 (10.0)30/276 (10.9)0.7858/60 (13.3)21/119 (17.6)0.460
Organisational changes, n (%)
    Restructuring87/141 (61.7)177/282 (62.8)0.83132/61 (52.5)81/120 (67.5)0.048
    Relocation70/138 (50.7)157/280 (56.1)0.30215/60 (25.0)35/117 (29.9)0.492
    Downsizing82/137 (59.8)167/278 (60.1)0.96626/60 (43.3)58/119 (48.7)0.494
Job strain, n (%)n = 137n = 280n = 61n = 114
    PD +, DL – (job strain)40 (29.2)66 (23.6)0.08615 (24.6)25 (21.9)0.182
    PD −, DL – (passive)35 (25.5)69 (24.6)21 (34.4)26 (22.8)
    PD +, DL + (active)49 (35.8)92 (32.9)16 (26.2)32 (28.1)
    PD −, DL + (low strain)13 (9.5)53 (18.9)9 (14.8)31 (27.2)
Low support at work, n (%)73/133 (54.9)142/281 (50.5)0.40734/56 (60.7)59/115 (51.3)0.246
Low support out of work, n (%)81/141 (57.4)150/280 (53.6)0.45138/61 (62.3)53/121 (43.8)0.018
Stressful life events, n (%)106/137 (77.4)247/280 (88.2)0.00445/60 (75.0)108/122 (88.5)0.019