Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among elderly persons in an urban slum of Delhi, India

Abstract

The increase in the number of elderly persons is contributing to an increase in the prevalence of hypertension. The residents of urban slums are more vulnerable to diseases due to poverty and lack of access to health care. To estimate the prevalence of hypertension in elderly persons in an urban slum of Delhi, and to assess the awareness, treatment and control of this condition among them. All persons aged 60 years and above, residing in an urban slum of Delhi, were included in this cross-sectional community-based study. Blood pressure was measured and socio-demographic information was collected. The participants’ awareness and treatment of hypertension was recorded. Among the 496 participants studied, the prevalence of hypertension was estimated to be 39.5% (95% CI 35.2-49.0). It was 36.4% and 42.9% among men and women, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age. Of those having hypertension, 28.6% were aware of their condition; 60.7% of those aware were on treatment, and 52.9% under treatment had controlled blood pressure. Hypertension is common among elderly persons in urban slums. Its magnitude and low awareness warrants effective public health interventions for its identification, treatment and control. Copyright © 2014, Indian Journal of Medical Specialities. Published by Reed Elsevier India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.