English

Abstract

Context: India is in a stage of epidemiological transition, facing a dual burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases; and as in developed countries the noncommunicable diseases in India are assuming a more menacing proportion. A recent Chennai Corporation survey found that at least one in five people in Chennai’s slums had hypertension and more than one in ten had diabetes. Aims: To assess the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in above 40 years age group in a slum area of Chennai and to study the association of these diseases with addiction to alcohol and tobacco. The study also focuses on compliance of patients to treatment for hypertension and diabetes. Settings and Design: Urban slum in Chennai, Cross sectional study. Materials and Methods: Present study was undertaken in a slum in Chennai in persons above 40 years age group. One slum was selected randomly and the households in the slum were sampled by a systematic random sampling method. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the socio-demographic profile, past history of hypertension and diabetes, history of addiction to alcohol and tobacco (smoking or chewing) and compliance to treatment for known hypertensive’s and diabetics. Statistical analysis: The prevalence was expressed in percentage and the Chi square test was used to find association with the factors. Results: The prevalence of Hypertension was 39.17% and Diabetes was 15.49%. The overall prevalence of addiction to alcohol, smoking and/or tobacco among study population in males was 74.86% and females 50.23%. In male study population the prevalence of addiction among hypertensive’s and diabetics was 93.54% (p<0.001) and 96.77% (p<0.001) respectively. In female study population the prevalence of addiction among hypertensive’s and diabetics was 62.02% (p<0.005) and 37.28% (p<0.05) respectively. Compliance to treatment was more in females as compared to males. Conclusion: There is a rising prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among the urban slum dwellers. Addiction to alcohol and/or tobacco was found to be an important factor contributing to the