Distribution and Determinants of Hypertension in Field Practice Area of CMC&H Bungal Pathankot, Punjab, India

Abstract

Blood pressure in a population follows Gaussian curve distribution with no real separation between normotension and hypertension. ⁽¹⁾ Essential hypertension may be considered to be the result of interactions between genes and environment ⁽²). Important environmental factors are obesity, smoking, family history, physical inactivity, dietary excess of sodium and fat, high income with sedentary habits, education, occupation etc. ^(3).

Material and methods: Present study is a cross sectional one, conducted in field practice area of Chintpurni Medical College & Hospital Bungal, Pathankot (CMC & H), Punjab (India). Criteria of Hypertension were defined using JNC7. It defines hypertension as blood pressure more than 140/90 mm of Hg. The data was collected during the month of October 2014

Results: Illiterate v/s education 12-16 years, prevalence was 57.05 % and 23.52% respectively (p=.0001, highly significant). In our study prevalence among students was lowest 6.89% and the house wives highest 52.17% (p=.008, highly significant). Similarly association with respect to education, occupation, monthly income, BMI, family history, table salt intake, non-vegetarian diet, smoking, etc. was highly significant (p <.01 at 99% CI). JMS 2017; 20(1):31-37