Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the urban population of Jaipur in western India.
OBJECTIVE
To determine age-specific blood pressure levels and prevalence of hypertension in an urban Indian population.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey in six randomly selected municipal blocks in Jaipur city, India.


METHODS
There were 2122 subjects (1415 male, 797 female) aged 20 years or more. Evaluation was by physician-administered questionnaire, physical examination and electrocardiography. Diagnosis of hypertension used World Health Organization (WHO) and USA Fifth Joint National Committee (JNC-V) guidelines. Hypertension was subclassified according to the Framingham Study criteria.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD blood pressures (mmHg) were 125 +/- 19 systolic and 81 +/- 24 diastolic in men and 126 +/- 20 systolic and 81 +/- 12 diastolic in women. A significant correlation of blood pressure with increasing age groups was seen. The prevalence of hypertension according to the JNC-V criteria was 30% in men and 33% in women; by WHO criteria it was 11% in men and 12% in women and increased with age in all subjects. In the JNC-V hypertensive group borderline isolated systolic hypertension was present in 13% of men and 17% of women, definite isolated systolic hypertension was present in 7% of men and 2% of women, isolated diastolic hypertension was present in 65% of men and 57% of women and definite hypertension was present in 16% of men and 24% of women. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, smoking and higher body mass index were independently associated with higher prevalence of hypertension both in men and in women.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of JNC-V-defined hypertension was found in an Indian urban population. Isolated diastolic hypertension was the commonest subtype. Significant determinants of hypertension were age, smoking and body mass index.
Gupta
R
R
Department of Medicine, Monilek Hospital, Jaipur, India.
Guptha
S
S
Gupta
V P
VP
Prakash
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population