PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG PRE-ELDERLY PATIENTS ATTENDING PERIPHERAL HEALTH CENTRE OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF INDIA

Abstract

Background: In this modern era, chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a major global health challenge with numerous grave complications on the human body. Hypertension is the most common disorder which is being encountered in the outdoor patients

Method:  This cross sectional study was undertaken to provide the data on the prevalence of hypertension amongst patients who were aged 20 years and above (pre elderly) and who attended the Out Patients Department of the Rural Health & Training Centre of tertiary care hospital of Chandigarh city of India.

Results: Association of age with systolic blood pressure & diastolic pressure was found to be highly significant (P < 0.001). On the other hand association gender with systolic blood pressure & diastolic blood pressure was also found to be highly significant (P < 0.001). Logistic regression was also applied & it was found that age and male gender is a better predictor of diastolic hypertension but it was found to be non-significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Hypertension was found to be highly prevalent among the outdoor patients of Rural Health & Training Centre of Chandigarh, India. This study warrants the need of an early detection of hypertension, which can be accomplished by a periodic screening of the people.

Key words: Hypertension; India.