Blood pressure studies in the adult population of Agra, India

Abstract

The normal blood pressure range of 1,634 apparently healthy persons over 20 years of age in the general population of Agra (India) is presented and analyzed according to age, sex, socioeconomic status, weight and height. There was a steady rise of systolic and diastolic blood pressures with age in both sexes up to the sixth decade, the women showing a steeper rise after the age of 40 years. Highest values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed in the “high” socioeconomic group and lowest values in the “low” group. Statistically significant increase in the blood pressures was also observed when correlated with increase in body weight. No correlation could be established with body height. The over-all incidence of hypertension, with 160/95 mm. Hg and over the measure of hypertensive levels, was 4.3 per cent. It was 9.4 per cent in the high socioeconomic group and only 1.9 per cent in the low group. The incidence rose progressively with age. The women showed a higher incidence than men after the age of 40 years.