Prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in a community-based primary health care program villages at central India

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a community-based effort in a rural area of central India to decrease the prevalence of hypertension among the middle-aged and older population by using multiple blood pressure measurements. METHODS: With a prevalence of 16.8% (error of 3.36, and 95% confidence interval) from a recent study in a nearby district, the sample size required for this study was 495 subjects. A proportionally stratified random sample design was used. With maps of ten villages, where in a community-based health project had been in place for many years, 20 households and 20 backups were randomly selected from a list of all households. Multiple BP measurements were obtained and categorized and one-month period prevalence was calculated. Statistical analyses of frequency and percentage were performed. RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth of the population above 40 years of age in central India where a community-based approach is in place was hypertensive. This is significantly lower than the previously documented prevalence rate of one-third or even more prevalence rate in India. The attribute of caste and religion, a specific rural Indian characteristic did not have any significant bearing on the above results. The prevalence tended to increase progressively with age until 70 years, after which it declined. Multiple blood pressure measurements may yield an accurate prevalence of hypertension. CONCLUSION: With the documented evidences from India, the current reduced prevalence of hypertension could have been influenced by the community-based interventions in this population.