| STUDY OF PREVALENCE
OF HYPERTENSION AND SOCIODEMPGRAPHIC FACTORS IN
A RURAL COMMUNITY OF MAHARASHTRA |
| HA Khadilkar, CH
Ghattargi, GH Thite |
 |
Department of
Preventive and Social Medicine, Swami Ramanand
Teerth Rural Medical College, Ambajogai-431517,
Dist-Beed (Maharashtra) India |
|
| |
 ABSTRACT |
| |
| WHO health report 1998 stated that
considering the prevalence of any disease, hypertension
ranked fourth in the world. Studies on hypertension,
one of the important risk factor of cardiovascular
disorders, in rural India are scarce. Because of
changing life style and environment, the problem
of hypertension is increasing. A community based
study was carried out at the adopted village Chanai,
a field practice area of Department of Preventive
and Social Medicine, S.R.T.R. Medical College, Ambajogai
to find out the prevalence of hypertension in population
20 years and above and to study some socio-demographic
factors affecting hypertension. A mass screening
of 1419 subjects was done for blood pressure measurement.
There were 84 cases of hypertension giving overall
prevalence 5.92% (male-5.85% and female-6.00%).
There was a significant increase in the prevalence
of hypertension with increasing age in both sexes.
The prevalence of hypertension went on increasing
significantly with increase in socio-economic status
and with increase in literacy status. |
| |
|
INTRODUCTION |
| |
| W. H. O. health report 1998 stated
that considering the prevalence of any disease hypertension
ranked fourth in the world1.
In developing countries perhaps its impact was not
fully regarded due to high incidence of communicable
diseases. Now as communicable diseases are getting
controlled and life expectancy is increased, its
importance is now being felt2,3.
Studies on hypertension, one of the important risk
factor of cardiovascular disorders, in rural India
are scarce. Because of changes in life style, changes
in environment, the problem of hypertension is increasing.
A community based study was carried out at the adopted
village Chanai, a field practice area of Department
of preventive and social medicine, S.R.T.R. Medical
college, Ambajogai to find out the prevalence of
hypertension in population 20 years and above to
study some socio-demographic factors affecting hypertension. |
| |
| Table 1: Age-wise distribution
of hypertensives |
| |
| Age (completed
years) |
Total |
| Total
no. of persons studied |
No.
of cases with hypertension |
Prevalence
of hypertension in % |
| 20-29 |
387 |
2 |
0.52 |
| 30-39 |
353 |
6 |
1.69 |
| 40-49 |
295 |
10 |
3.39 |
| 50-59 |
177 |
18 |
10.17 |
| 60-69 |
120 |
16 |
13.33 |
| 70-79 |
70 |
23 |
32.86 |
 80 |
17 |
9 |
52.94 |
| Total |
1419 |
84 |
5.92 |
| X2
= 201.35, df =5, p < 0.001 |
|
| |
|
MATERIAL AND METHODS |
| |
| A mass screening of the population
20 years and above for blood pressure measurement
was carried out to find out the prevalence of hypertension
in village Chanai. This village was selected randomly
among three villages adopted by the Dept. of P.S.M.
The population 20 years and above was 1637 and surveyed
population 20 years and above was 1419 (86.68%).
The criteria laid down by WHO Expert Committee on
Hypertension Control was followed to detect hypertension4. |
| |
| Hypertensives were interviewed with
the help of predesigned, pretested proforma and
information regarding identification data, socioeconomic
status and literacy status was recorded. |
| |
|
RESULTS |
| |
| There were 84 cases of hypertension
giving overall prevalence of 5.92%. The age specific
prevalence of hypertension increased significantly
as age increased (Table 1). Out of 752 males, 44
had hypertension giving a prevalence of 5.85% and
there were 40 hypertensive females out of 667 females
giving a prevalence of 6%. No significant difference
was found in the prevalence of hypertension between
males and females. Chi-square test revealed that
there was a significant increase in the prevalence
of hypertension with increasing age in both sexes
(p < 0.001) (Table 2). The prevalence of hypertension
increased significantly with increase in socioeconomic
status (Table 3) (p < 0.05). The prevalence of
hypertension also increased significantly with the
increase in literacy status (Table 4). |
| |
| Table 2: Age and sex wise distribution
of hypertensives |
| |
| Age
(years) |
Male |
Female |
| Total
number of person studied |
Number
of cases with hypertension |
Prevalence
of hypertension in % |
Total
number of person studied |
Number
of cases with hypertension |
Prevalence
of hypertension in % |
| 20-29 |
206 |
2 |
0.97 |
181 |
- |
- |
| 30-39 |
191 |
5 |
2.61 |
162 |
1 |
0.61 |
| 40-49 |
158 |
6 |
3.79 |
137 |
4 |
2.92 |
| 50-59 |
96 |
9 |
9.37 |
81 |
9 |
11.11 |
| 60-69 |
58 |
7 |
12.06 |
62 |
9 |
14.52 |
| 70-79 |
35 |
11 |
31.42 |
35 |
12 |
34.28 |
| 80 |
8 |
4 |
50.0 |
9 |
5 |
55.55 |
|
| |
| DISCUSSION |
| |
| The true estimate of the prevalence
of hypertension can only be obtained by community
based epidemiological studies. The present study
showed overall prevalence of hypertension 5.92%,
this was comparable with overall prevalence noted
in different studies like Gupta S. P. et al (1977)5
of 3.57%, Gupta S. P. et al (1978)6
of 6.43%, Wasir H. S. et al (1983)7
of 5.4%, ICMR studies (1992)8
of 5%, Joshi P. P. et al (1993)9
of 4%, Goel N. K. and Kaur P. (1996)10
of 7.19%. |
| |
| Table 3: Distribution of hypertensives
according to socioeconomic status. |
| |
| X2=
10.17, p<0.05 |
| |
| Socioeconomic
status (by B. G. Prasad) |
Population
surveyed |
Cases
of hypertension |
Prevalence
of hypertension in % |
| No. |
% |
No. |
% |
| Class
I Upper |
43 |
3.03 |
5 |
5.95 |
11.62 |
| Class
II Upper middle |
106 |
7.47 |
11 |
13.10 |
10.38 |
| Class
III Lower middle |
446 |
31.43 |
29 |
34.52 |
6.50 |
| Class
IV Upper lower |
643 |
45.31 |
34 |
40.48 |
5.29 |
| Class
V Lower |
181 |
12.76 |
5 |
5.95 |
2.76 |
| Total |
1419 |
100 |
84 |
100 |
5.92 |
|
| |
| Table 4: Distribution of hypertensives
according to their literacy status. |
| |
| X2=
15.51, p< 0.01 |
| |
| Literacy
status |
Population
surveyed |
Cases
of hypertension |
Prevalence
of hypertension in % |
| No. |
% |
No. |
% |
| Illiterate |
650 |
45.81 |
22 |
26.19 |
3.38 |
| Primary |
471 |
33.19 |
38 |
45.24 |
8.07 |
| Secondary |
169 |
11.91 |
11 |
13.10 |
6.51 |
| Higher
Secondary |
83 |
5.85 |
7 |
8.33 |
8.43 |
| Graduate |
42 |
2.96 |
5 |
5.95 |
11.90 |
| Postgraduate |
3 |
0.21 |
1 |
1.19 |
33.33 |
| Professional |
1 |
0.07 |
0 |
0.00 |
00 |
| Total |
1419 |
100 |
84 |
100 |
5.92 |
|
| |
| Study noted that with increase in
age, prevalence of hypertension also increased similar
results were observed by Gupta S.P. et al (1977)5,
Gupta S.P. et al (1978)6,
Sharma B. K. et al (1985)11,
Joshi P. P. et al (1993)9.
The study showed higher prevalence of hypertension
in females than males similar findings were noted
by Gupta S. P. et al (1977)5
in which females had 3.59% and males had 3.55% prevalence,
Gupta S. P. et al (1978)6
observed 6.99% and 5.99% prevalence of hypertension
in females and males respectively, Wasir H. S. et
al (1983)7 noted
7.5% and 3.2% in females and males respectively,
Goel N. K. and Kaur P. (1996)10
recorded 8.82% and 5.57% in females and males respectively,
Gupta R. et al (1997)12
reported 33% in females and 30% in males in urban
community and present study results were contradictory
to studies by Joshi P. P. et al (1993)9
and Gupta R. et al (1997)12
carried out in rural community in which prevalence
of hypertension in males was more than females.
Gupta S. P. et al (1977)5,
Gupta S. P. et al (1978)6
and Sharma B. K. et al (1985)11
reported that with increase in age the prevalence
of hypertension also increased in both sexes these
findings were comparable to present study results. |
| |
| The present study showed the prevalence
of hypertension was significantly higher in upper
income socio-economic status this finding was confirmatory
to the observations made by Gupta S. P. et al (1977)5,
Gupta S. P. et al (1978)6
and Sharma B. K. et al (1985)11. |
| |
| CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS |
| |
| * |
The overall
prevalence of hypertension is 5.92% in males
5.85% in females. |
| * |
Initial mass
screening programs for the whole population
with the help of government, non-Government
agencies should be carried out to find out
the prevalence of hypertension. |
| * |
People from
higher socioeconomic status and higher educational
status should be kept under surveillance for
detection of hypertension. |
| * |
Hypertension
is one of the important risk factors for coronary
heart disease, which is one of the important
leading causes of death. So a national programme
for detection, treatment follow-up, education
and prevention of cardiovascular disease should
be started as early as possible. |
|
| |
| REFERENCES |
| |
| 1. |
The World Health
Report 1998 - WHO Geneva, 1998. |
| 2. |
Gupta Anmol
K. et al: "Prevalence And Awareness Of
Hypertension In A Closed Community Of North
Indian Town". Indian Journal of Community
Medicine, 1998; Vol. XXIII No. 3: 123 -126. |
| 3. |
Community Prevention
And Control Of Cardiovascular Diseases - Report
of WHO Expert Committee. Technical Report
Series No. 732 WHO Geneva, 1986. |
| 4. |
WHO Expert
Committee on Hypertension Control. Technical
Report Series No. 862, WHO Geneva, 1996. |
| 5. |
Gupta S. P.
et al: "Epidemiology Of Hypertension
- Based On Total Community Survey In The Rural
Population Of Haryana". Indian Heart
Journal, 1977; 29 (2): 53 -62. |
| 6. |
Gupta S. P.
et al: "Edidemiology of Hypertension
- Based on Total Community Survey in the Urban
Population of Haryana". Indian Heart
Journal, 1978; 30 (6): 315 - 322. |
| 7. |
Wasir H. S.
et al: "An Epidemiological Study Of Hypertension
In An Indian Rural Community" Indian
Heart Journal, 1983; 35: 294. |
| 8. |
ICMR Bulletin:
"Progress In Cardiovascular Disease Research
In India During Last Two Decades 1971 -1992".
Vol. 22 (4): 1992. |
| 9. |
Joshi P. P.
et al: "Blood Pressure Trends And Life
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1993; 41(9): 579 -581. |
| 10. |
Goel N. K.
and Kaur P.: "Role Of Various Risk Factors
In The Epidemiology Of Hypertension In A Rural
Community Of Varanasi District ". Indian
Journal of Public Health, 1996; 40 (3): 71
-76. |
| 11. |
Sharma B. K.
et al: Hypertension among the industrial workers
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| 12. |
Gupta R. et
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