Active health behaviors and their influencing factors among community-dwelling elderly hypertensive patients: a cross-sectional study in Zhengzhou, China

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a common chronic disease among older adults, and active health behaviors are important for disease management and health promotion in this population. However, evidence on the current status of active health behaviors and their influencing factors among community-dwelling older adults with hypertension remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the current status of active health behaviors among community-dwelling older adults with hypertension and explore the factors influencing these behaviors, thereby providing a basis for improving active health behaviors in this population.To investigate the current status of active health behaviors among elderly hypertensive patients in the community and explore the factors influencing these behaviors, providing a basis for improving the active health behaviors of this population. METHODS: In this community-based cross-sectional study, convenience sampling was used to recruit 401 community-dwelling elderly hypertensive patients in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, from November 2023 to December 2023. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Active Health Behavior Scale, the Digital Health Literacy Assessment Scale for Community Elderly, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The average score of active health behaviors among elderly hypertensive patients in the community was 109.86(21.64). Multiple linear regression showed that age, per capita monthly household income, health status, form of medical payment, digital health literacy, and illness perception were factors influencing active health behaviors in elderly hypertensive patients in the community (P