BHUBANESWAR: Hypertension may have emerged as one of the leading causes of premature deaths in India but 44.5 per cent people in the age group of 18 to 54 years in Odisha have never got their blood pressure (BP) checked, reveals a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The study by ICMR’s National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) found 55.5 pc people in the state had their BP checked and it was one of the lowest in the country. While the prevalence of elevated BP was 17.2 pc, that of pre-hypertension was found to be 34.4 pc against the national average of 15.9 pc and 33.7 pc, respectively.
Mayurbhanj and Nuapada were among the 20 bad performing districts in the country in terms of people measuring their blood pressure. Around 40 pc people, in 18-54 age bracket in Mayurbhanj and 42.1 pc in Nuapada got their BP checked.
The measured BP rates, prevalence of pre-hypertension and raised BP exhibited wide variations across the districts. The study attributed the disparities to various factors including differences in healthcare infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, lifestyle choices, and urban-rural divides.
“Addressing these multi-faceted factors is crucial for reducing healthcare disparities and enhancing raised blood pressure related health outcomes, both at the state and district levels,” stated the study published in the International Journal of Public Health (IJPH).
The study flagged the growing concern about rising rates of pre-hypertension and elevated BP in younger individuals. Alcohol consumption was associated with higher odds of ever measured BP and prevalence of raised BP.
While more women had their BP checked, possibly due to ante-natal care services, as compared to men, who got their BP measured only when they sought medical attention during emergencies or when chronic illnesses have already advanced.
Professor of General Medicine at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar Dr Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty said the study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address healthcare disparities, especially among vulnerable populations.
“Hypertension is now a major public health problem. People aged between 18 and 40 must get their BP checked to gauge any underlying disease and people older than 40 years should measure their BP once in six months,” he said.
Hypertension is directly responsible for 29 pc of all strokes and 24 pc of heart attacks in the country. Since this is preventable with lifestyle modifications which include physical activity and dietary modifications, the ICMR had launched a campaign five years ago to encourage people across various age groups to check their blood pressure at regular intervals.
India was the first country to adopt global noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) action plan in 2014 and set national NCD targets and indicators. One of the primary targets was to achieve a 25 pc relative reduction in the prevalence of high blood pressure in individuals aged 18 and above by 2025.
Vital parameter
55.5 pc people in Oidsha had their BP checked
Mayurbhanj and Nuapada among 20 bad performing districts in India
40 pc in Mayurbhanj, 42.1 pc in Nuapada got their BP checked