Publication:

Study of prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in adults in an urban slum area of Western Maharashtra, India

Background Hypertension is an important public health problem, which is common, asymptomatic, readily detectable, having preventable risk factors and often lead to lethal complications (viz. stroke, coronary heart disease) if left untreated. Identification of different risk factors is important for the prevention and control of hypertension. The objectives was to estimate prevalence of hypertension among people of age 20 years and above in an urban slum area and to study the association between risk factors and hypertension.

Methods A community based cross sectional study was carried out among the adults residing in the urban slum area, catered by U.H.C. of the Department of Community Medicine, Dr. V.M.G.M.C Solapur, Maharashtra, India. The sample size was 1122 adults in the age group of 20 years and above. By using systematic random sampling method, every 5th household was selected and data was collected by house to house visits, clinical examination and interview of study population with a pre-designed pre-tested proforma. Chi- square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data.

Results The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 15.15 %. Prevalence of hypertension was slightly higher in males (15.86%) than prevalence of hypertension in females (14.51%). Age, body mass index, Physical activity, salt intake >5 grams, smoking, family h/o hypertension and waist-hip ratio were significantly associated with hypertension.

Conclusions Prevalence of hypertension in urban slum area was found to be 15.15%. Age, BMI, Physical activity, salt intake, smoking, family h/o hypertension and WHR are the risk factors found in study.