Abstract

Background: Hypertension is considered a chronic disorder of interest owing to its involvement in the generation of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other vascular complications. It is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular mortality, which accounts for 20%–50% of all deaths and will be the prime cause of morbidity by 2020 in India.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 18–59 years residing at rural community of Dakshina Kannada and study the correlates of hypertension among adults.

Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the age group of 18–59 years to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among the residents of the rural community. A total of 710 study subjects were selected. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic profiles and dietary patterns. Anthropometric measurements were taken using the standard methodology. The blood pressure was assessed and classified using JNC 7 criteria

Result: The overall prevalence of hypertension among adults was 43.6%, and it was higher in female subjects. The maximum prevalence of hypertension was found among the age group of 50–59 years (male subjects, 60.2%, and female subjects, 65.4%). The study participants with diabetes showed 1.59 times higher risk than nondiabetic participants.

Conclusion: The rates of hypertension in the rural community under study are similar to those seen in high-income countries and in urban India. Hence, there is a need for primordial prevention efforts on large scale.

Key words: Hypertension, prevalence, adults, rural India