Prevalence and predictors of hypertension: Evidence from a study of rural India

Raised blood pressure (BP) is the leading global risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and a major cause of premature death. Worldwide, one in four men and one in five women are hypertensive. For effective preventive strategy, understanding of predictors of hypertension is necessary.

To assess prevalence and predictors of hypertension in the rural adult Indian population.

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 425 rural subjects (25-64 years) of the Varanasi district in India selected through multistage sampling. Blood pressure of each subject was measured using a standard technique. Sociodemographic data and predictors of hypertension were assessed by interviewing subjects with help of a predesigned and pretested proforma.

Prevalence of hypertension was 31.5% (95% CI: 27.1-35.9). There existed a significant (P < 0.05) association of BP with age, educational status, occupation, socioeconomic class, tobacco consumption, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and nutritional status. No significant association was found with gender, religion, caste, marital status, type and size of family, family without NCDs, awareness of screening camps for NCDs and national program for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and alcohol consumption. Significant association of education, nutritional, and occupational status obtained in univariate analysis got eliminated in the logistic model. Risk of hypertension was higher in the 45-64 years age group (AOR: 3.06; 95% CI: 1.75-5.35) and in socioeconomic class IV and V (AOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.17-4.31).

Prevalence of hypertension in the rural population was high and most of the observed predictors were modifiable.