Health Status and Predictors of Hypertension, Blood Pressure, and Pulse Rate of Jamaicans During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The objectives of the current research are to examine Jamaicans’ health status, pulse rate, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and factors influencing 1) hypertension, 2) blood pressure, and 3) pulse rate, during COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey using associational research design by way of convenience sampling was used to conduct this research. This study examined correlation of age, gender, BMI, hypertension, and blood pressure among Jamaicans age ranging from 15 to 85 and above. Cross–sectional study and associational research design were used to collect data for the period of June to August 2020. The study demonstrated that hypertension is significantly predicted by gender, age, and pulse rate one─Omnibus tests of model (χ2(4) =138.947, P < 0.0001, -2Ll=2098.67) and Wald statistic being 90.161, P < 0.0001, and the variance in model 10.8% (Nagelkerke R2). Furthermore, ordinary least square (OLS) regression can be used to model pulse rate (bpm) for Jamaicans (F [4, 1676] =17.236, P < 0.0001), with the model explaining 4.0% of the variance in pulse rate of Jamaicans. Gender, BMI and Hypertensive emerged as the factors that determine the pulse rate of Jamaicans. Diastolic & systolic blood pressure were determined by age, weight, and pulse rate, with age being the most significant predictor. The risk of hypertension was higher among population groups who were overweight and obese. Gender was found to correlate with blood pressure and hypertension; female participants were more likely to be hypertensive than the male participants. BMI measurement should be recommended as a simple and effective predictor of hypertension in public health strategies. There is empirical evidence that can be used to establish that Jamaicans health status has worsen since March 10, 2020, and that Covid-19 has brought with it unhealthy lifestyle practices, which are pending public health challenges come 2021 and beyond.