Prevalence of Obesity and Its Association With Socio-Economic Class in Hypertension

BACKGROUND exerts a substantial public health burden on cardiovascular health status and healthcare systems in India. It is of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease35. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence obesity in hypertensive individuals attending the medical OPD or admitted in a tertiary care center and to determine the of obesity with socio-economic class in hypertensive individuals. November 2014 to May 2016, a cross sectional study was done among 200 hypertensive patients attending the OPD or in tertiary care center. The following parameters were used; blood pressure, height, weight, BMI as per WHO criteria, -economic class based on modified Kuppuswamy scale, nutritional pattern, physical activity, alcohol intake, type of - sedentary/manual and residence (urban/rural). significant risk factors by univariate analysis were found to be upper-middle socio-economic class, female sex, family history hypertension, family history of diabetes, family history of dyslipidaemia, urban residence and sedentary life style. After analysis, the confounding factors were removed and it was found that female sex, sedentary life style and people urban areas had significant independent association between hypertension and obesity. research revealed a higher prevalence of obesity in the urban women with hypertension and sedentary life style. The need the hour is to develop comprehensive and flexible measures to promote adoption of a healthy diet and physical activity for at-risk population.