Department of Endocrinology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Indian J Med Res. 2021 Mar;154(3):467-475. doi: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_48_19.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of hypertension is increasing among all ethnic groups across the globe with only a handful of studies from India addressing the prevalence of hypertension among tribal population. In view of paucity of data, this study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors among tribal population of Kashmir, India.
This cross-sectional survey included 6808 tribals aged >20 yr (5695 Gujjars and 1113 Bakarwals) from five randomly selected districts of Kashmir. Modified WHO-STEPS surveillance questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Hypertension was defined by Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertension (JNC 8) criteria.
The mean age of our study participants was 43.12 ± 15.69 years. Overall prevalence of hypertension [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 41.4% (39.9-42.9%) [men=46.7% (44.1-49.1%); women=37.9% (35.9-39.9%)]. The prevalence of prehypertension (95% CI) in our study was 35 per cent (33.7-36.6%). Higher age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI): >70 yr-2.2 (1.9-2.4)], passive smoking [OR-1.3 (1.1-1.5)], family history of hypertension [OR-1.6 (1.4-1.7)] and obesity [OR-1.3 (1.1-1.6)] were significantly associated with hypertension. A weak positive correlation was observed between BP (systolic/diastolic) with haemoglobin, red blood cell count and haematocrit (P<0.05).
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes of Jammu and Kashmir showed high prevalence of hypertension. Hence, urgent policies and reforms are needed to tackle this silent epidemic and further studies focusing on community-based interventions are required.
高血压在全球所有种族中都呈上升趋势，但仅有少数来自印度的研究涉及部落人群的高血压患病率。鉴于数据匮乏，本研究旨在评估印度克什米尔部落人群的高血压患病率及其相关危险因素。
本横断面研究纳入了来自克什米尔五个随机选定地区的 6808 名年龄大于 20 岁的部落人群（5695 名古贾尔人和 1113 名巴卡尔瓦人）。使用世界卫生组织-步骤监测问卷收集相关数据。高血压的定义采用联合国家委员会预防、检测、评估和治疗高血压（JNC 8）标准。
研究参与者的平均年龄为 43.12±15.69 岁。高血压总体患病率[95%置信区间（CI）]为 41.4%（39.9-42.9%）[男性为 46.7%（44.1-49.1%）；女性为 37.9%（35.9-39.9%）]。本研究中，高血压前期（95%CI）的患病率为 35%（33.7-36.6%）。较高的年龄[调整后的优势比（OR）（95%CI）：>70 岁-2.2（1.9-2.4）]、被动吸烟[OR-1.3（1.1-1.5）]、高血压家族史[OR-1.6（1.4-1.7）]和肥胖[OR-1.3（1.1-1.6）]与高血压显著相关。血压（收缩压/舒张压）与血红蛋白、红细胞计数和红细胞压积之间观察到弱正相关（P<0.05）。
查谟和克什米尔的古贾尔族和巴卡尔瓦族人群高血压患病率较高。因此，需要紧急制定政策和改革措施来应对这一无声的流行疾病，并且需要进一步开展以社区为基础的干预措施为重点的研究。
