Relationship between Fast Food Consumption Frequency and the Occurrence of Hypertension in Late Adulthood

Hypertension is a health problem that requires particular attention among older adults, as it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. An unhealthy dietary pattern is one of the modifiable risk factors, including the habit of consuming fast food, which generally contains high amounts of sodium and saturated fat. The research aimed to determined the relationship among fast food consumptio requency and the occurrence of hypertension among older adults aged 46059 years. An observational analytic study with a cross-sectional approach was applied in the Sei Langkai Public Health Center, Batam City. Atotal of 105 participants were picked used purposive sampling based on prefetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Information on fast food consumption frequency was collected used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), hhile blood pressure was measured used a sphygmomanometer. The data were analyzed using the pearson correlation test. The outcomes revealed 89,5% of participants were categorizes as frequent fast food consumers during the purvious month. The most commonly consumed food were fried food and padang rice dishes, each accounting for 52.4%, followed by instant noodles at 51,4%. Based on blood pressure measurements, 32.4% of respondents were classified as prehypertensive ande 30.4% as having stage 1 hypertension. The pearson correlation test yielded a p-value 0f 0.440, no significant relationship among fast food consumption frequency and the occurrence of hypertension. Prevention of hypertension should nevertheless be encouraged by limiting high-sodium foods, increasig fruit and vegetable intake, and undergoing reguler blood pressure checks.