Hypertension is a chronic condition of concern due to its role in the causation of other non-communicable diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke and other vascular complications.

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the risk factors for high blood pressure are older age, overweight or obesity and unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as lack of physical activity, smoking and eating too much salt.

Body mass index is positively and independently associated with morbidity and mortality from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and other chronic diseases. ^[1]

The association between the presence of risk factors and the development of the disease has been well documented. ^[2,3]

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1) To study the association between blood pressure and age.

2) To find out the association between blood pressure and BMI.

This cross-sectional study was carried out among 459 residents of Ahmedabad city. It was done during the interval of AUGUST-2016 to AUGUST-2017.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ranging from 20-90 years, both the genders, newly diagnosed hypertension as well as those already diagnosed and receiving treatment for hypertension.

 Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with secondary hypertension.
• And the temporary candidates of hypertension e.g. Pregnancy in which case hypertension does not persist after pregnancy.

This was cross sectional study and conducted in the city of Ahmedabad. People living in Ahmedabad were selected by stratified random sampling. They were screened for hypertension by JNC VII criteria using sphygmomanometer and for the assessment of BMI, height and weight measurements taken using standard protocols. After informed consent was obtained, detailed personal, past & family history was taken.

Ethical consideration

Written and informed consent was taken from the participants. Before conducting the study approval was obtained from Institutional Ethical Committee for human research.

Data analysis:

Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analysis was done using SPSS statistical package. Parameters such as rate, ratio and percentages were calculated. In order to have valid interpretation of rates, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. To test the significance of the difference among the statistical parameters in different subsets of population, suitable statistical tests were applied. They included chi-square test and Z- test.

Table:1 Distribution of the study population according to age group and categories of their blood pressure

Chi square=141.46                           Degree of Freedom: 4                                     p<0.0001

Table:2 Distribution of the study population according to categories of their Body Mass Index (BMI) and categories of their blood pressure

Chi square: 22.895                                          Degree of freedom: 3                                      p<0.0001

According to Table:1 Out of total 93 hypertensive subjects, 42 (45.2%) subjects were in the age group of ≥60 years followed by 38 (40.9%) and 13 (14.0%) subjects were in the age groups of 40-59 years and 20-39 years respectively. The association between age and blood pressure category was statistically significant. (p<0.0001)

In Parikh S. et al ^[4] mean age of population surveyed was 37.2 years in non-hypertensive while in hypertensive it was 49.8 years, which was significantly higher.

In our study, the proportion of hypertension was found to increase steadily with the increase in age. These findings are coherent with study carried in rural Wardha ^[5]. Such changes of blood pressure with age might be due to changes in vascular system i.e. atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels.

According to Table:2 Out of total 93 hypertensive subjects, 54 (58.1%) subjects were (≥25 BMI), 23 (24.7%) subjects had normal BMI followed by 13 (14.0%) and 83 (3.2%) subjects had 23 to 24.9 BMI and BMI of <18.5 respectively. Association between categories of BMI and Hypertension was strongly significant. (p<0.0001)

In Parikh S. et al ^[4], no heavy worker was hypertensive. While 4 (3.4%) moderate workers had hypertension which is significantly lower (z value=8.27, P< 0.001) than 31.1% prevalence amongst sedentary worker. Somewhat same findings were reported in urban areas of Chandigarh, ^[6] there 86.8% of hypertensive was in sedentary activity group & risk of developing hypertension was 35% in person who did not engage in vigorous exercise.

BMI more than or equal to 25 was found to be significantly associated with hypertension. Similar findings were observed by a cross sectional study conducted among labourers in Madhya Pradesh. ^[7,8]

Incidence of hypertension increase above the age of 40.  Hypertension is more prevalent in obese people. Findings of present study strongly indicate that we need to raise awareness among the people particularly of middle class about hypertension and its complications. They should be taught preventive measures like healthy life style and importance of physical fitness. They should be motivated for regular health check-ups after the age of 40 for early diagnoses and treatment of hypertension. Controlling blood pressure should be the national priority. Strategies for prevention and treatment of hypertension should be planned at all levels right from government program to personal care.

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