Publication:

An epidemiological study on prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among school boys of Burdwan municipal area

Background High blood pressure in childhood and adolescence is an important part of the natural history of hypertension. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among the adolescent boys of class nine (IX) to twelve (XII).

Methods A school based cross sectional study was undertaken among 894 adolescent boys aged 13 to 18 years from May 2013 to October 2014 of Burdwan municipal area. Schools were selected by Simple random sampling and systematic random sampling was used to include sample students from each school. Statistical tests like chi-square test were applied for categorical variables and p<0.05 taken as statistical significance.

Results The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 5.7%. The study revealed highest prevalence of hypertension in the age group of 13-14 and 17-18 years (6.5%), Muslim religion (17%), General caste (8.4%), and upper socio-economic status (9.3%) among which religion and caste showed significant association with hypertension (P<0.05). Students taking non-vegeterian items ≥5 days a week, chewing tobacco users, obese and having family history were more hypertensive which was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions The association of hypertension with food habit, tobacco chewing, obesity & family history of hypertension was found to be statistically significant.