PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AND DETERMINATION OF ITS RISK FACTORS IN KORANGRAPADY, UDUPI DISTRICT, COASTAL KARNATAKA, INDIA

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension is a global public health problem that estimates about 4.5% of overall disease burden. It is a general health challenge in economically developing and developed countries. High blood pressure prevalence is increased from 11.2% to 28% (p<0.001) and 23–42.2% in rural and urban area according to the study done in Delhi for about 20 years. It is one of the important risk factors of cardiovascular disease, which is associated with morbidity and mortality. The aim was to identify the significant correlates of hypertension in a rural village in south India. Methods: Data were collected through a door-to-door survey among the residents of the village. Data collected was related to demographics and anthropometric measures. Blood pressure was measured with the help of the medical supervisor. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test for comparison between attributes. The potential hazard factor of hypertension was found by performing binary logistic regression model.Result: Of 299 participants considered for the study, 50 were hypertensive contributing to the overall prevalence of 16.72% with 95% confidence interval of 0.1292–0.2137, in which females have the prevalence rate of 17.8% and males with the prevalence rate of 15.5%. The study outcome identified education level, occupation, and family history of hypertension is the predicted risk factors.Conclusion: The high blood pressure prevalence is low and comparable with the studies conducted in other rural regions of India. More studies are, however, required to decide the appropriation and determinants of hypertension in different parts of this region.