Abstract
There are conflicting reports on the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) with socioeconomic status. This study explores this relationship individually and jointly. This is a cross sectional comparative study. Adults that participated in medical outreach organized for high and low socioeconomic status (SES) were tested for hypertension and DM. Mean age in years for high and low SES was 58.69 (± 10.26) and 57.77 (± 15.54), respectively. Widows were significantly more than widowers (P < 0.001). Frequency of hypertension in middle age (45 to 64 years in high and low SES) was 58.0 and 71.9%, respectively (P = 0.009). Frequency of DM was 19.2 and 7.3% in high and low SES respectively (P < 0.001). Combined frequency of hypertension and DM was 14.0 and 6.0% in high and low SES respectively (P = 0.002) and 13.8 and 5.9% in the middle age group in high and low SES respectively (P = 0.034). Severity of hypertension was more in low than high SES (P = 0.001). The prevalence and severity of hypertension among middle age in low SES is higher than in high SES. Combined frequency of hypertension and DM is more in high than low SES. Key words: Socioeconomic status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, combined frequency.  
Highlights
Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are major noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and their frequency worldwide is rising
In 2015, an estimated 40 million deaths occurred due to NCDs, accounting for 70% of the overall total of 56 million deaths. Most of such deaths were caused by the four main NCDs, namely: cardiovascular disease, 17.7 million deaths; cancer, 8.8 million deaths (22%); chronic respiratory disease, 3.9 million deaths (10%); and diabetes, 1.6 million deaths (4%)(WHO, 2017)
Having dichotomized the participants into high socioeconomic status (SES) and low SES, their educational status, occupation and income are excluded in this analysis
Summary
Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are major noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and their frequency worldwide is rising. In 2015, an estimated 40 million deaths occurred due to NCDs, accounting for 70% of the overall total of 56 million deaths Most of such deaths were caused by the four main NCDs, namely: cardiovascular disease, 17.7 million deaths (accounting for 45% of all NCD deaths); cancer, 8.8 million deaths (22%); chronic respiratory disease, 3.9 million deaths (10%); and diabetes, 1.6 million deaths (4%)(WHO, 2017). Apart from cancer and chronic respiratory disease, the first two commonest causes of death due to NCDs are hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Its frequency seems higher in urban areas than in rural areas (Akinlua et al, 2015) This suggests a socioeconomic status (SES) factor in distribution of hypertension. Hypertension is expected to be more frequent in higher SES than in lower SES. Fikadu and Lemma (2016) found such positive relationship
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