Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the urban population of Jaipur in western India.

OBJECTIVES

To determine age-specific blood pressure levels and prevalence of hypertension in an urban Indian population.

DESIGN AND SETTING

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

SUBJECTS AND 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.