Hypertension and its associated factors among current drinkers in Malaysia: Results from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the proportion of hypertension and its associated factors among current drinkers in Malaysia. Methodology: The data were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, a cross-sectional population survey design with two-stage stratified random sampling method which involved Malaysian adults above 18 years. Data on alcohol consumption were obtained through a validated self-administered Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test questionnaire. A complex sampling analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied. Results: A total of 1065 adults (8.4%; 95% confidence interval: 7.4-9.5) were categorized as current drinkers. Among the current drinkers, 28.4% were identified as having a risky drinking pattern and a fourth (26.6%) of them had hypertension. The multivariable model shows that hypertension risk among current drinkers was significantly higher in male (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] 2.05), with increasing age (AOR 1.06), with risky drinking pattern (AOR 1.44), in current drinkers with diabetes (AOR 2.56) and in overweight (AOR 3.54). Conclusions: The proportion of current drinker having hypertension was alarming and become deleterious, especially among men, increase of age, risky drinker and those with other non-communicable disease co-morbidities. Preventive counselling for alcohol use among them should be integrated into primary care.