EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF HYPERTENSION AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN AN URBAN-POPULATION OF NORTH-INDIA

Objectives: To determine age-specific prevalence of hypertension and b lood pressure (BP) levels in relation to diet and lifestyle factors in North Indians. Design and setting: Cross-sectional survey in 20 rando mly selected streets in Moradabad, North India. Subjects and methods: A total of 1806 subjects from North India (904 males and 902 females) age range 25-64 years. The survey methods were as follows: dietary dia ries for 7 days food intake record; BP measurements; physician adminis tered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Diagnosis of hype rtension was based on new World Health Organization/lnternational Soci ety of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) criteria. Risk factors were assessed bas ed on WHO guidelines. Results: The prevalence of hypertension accordin g to WHO/ISH criteria was 23.7% and by old WHO criteria 13.3%. In the WHO/ISH hypertensive group, isolated diastolic hypertension was presen t in 47.3% males and 40.6% females. Males have a slightly higher preva lence than females in the young age group, however, the prevalence rat es are comparable in the older age groups, In both sexes, the prevalen ce rates and BP level increased with older age. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, higher body mass index, central obesity and higher socioeconomic status were independently and strongly associated with h ypertension in both sexes. Higher dietary fat and salt intake and lowe r physical activity were weakly but significantly associated with hype rtension, Conclusion: Association of higher socioeconmic status, highe r body mass index and central obesity in North Indian adults with high er fat intake, lower physical activity and higher prevalence and level of hypertension indicate that these populations may benefit by decrea sing the dietary fat intake and increasing physical activity, with an aim to decrease central obesity for decreasing hypertension in North I ndians.