IJCM₁61A: Lifestyle related risk behaviour among hypertensive fishermen: Baseline: characteristics of an interventional study

Background: Fishing forms one of the essential livelihood options of inhabitants of the coastal line of the country. It is a stressful and hazardous occupation making fishermen prone to multiple lifestyle diseases. A number of researches have revealed that modifiable risk factors of NCDs are prevalent and are associated with NCDs, including hypertension among fishermen. Risk factors contributing to these include; tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy dietary habits and obesity Objective: To identify the socio-demographic and lifestyle related risk factors among hypertensive fishermen at baseline of an interventional study Methodology: Baseline data for an interventional study was collected among hypertensive fishermen. Participants were recruited from Malpe and Kaup villages of Udupi district for the intervention and routine care arms respectively using a purposive sampling method identified from existing database. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire using standard protocols. A health educational video was then shown to the participants of the intervention arm. The baseline data of both arms was entered and analysed using SPSS Version.26.0. Results: The mean (±SD) age of 112 participating fishermen from both study arms was 58.53 (± 8.72) years. Around 62.5% and 37.5% fishermen had blood pressure in grade 2 and grade 1 range respectively. More than half (61.6%) were ever tobacco users with 50.9% indulging in the habit of smokeless tobacco chewing. Majority (90.2%) were consumers of alcohol with 33% users indulging in hazardous drinking and showing dependence patterns. Nearly three-fourth (70.6%) fishermen were found to be obese and only 1.8% showed a low risk of cardiovascular diseases based on their waist-hip ratio. Conclusion: Risk factors for hypertension and other NCDs like substance use and central obesity were found in more than half of the hypertensive fishermen. Novel interventions facilitating behavioural modification in such occupational groups is essential