Key result
Daily alcohol consumption significantly increased the odds of hypertension among ex-Gurkha soldiers (AOR 3.13), alongside physical inactivity and obesity.
Why the study?
Despite Nepal's rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, Gurkha veterans remain largely overlooked in research despite post-service lifestyle transitions that may increase susceptibility to sedentary behavior and unhealthy diets.
Cross-Sectional (n=189)
Odds Ratio: 3.13 (95% CI 1.56–6.25)
Absolute Event Rate: 65.82% vs 34.55%
p-value: p=0.001
Among Gurkha veterans in Nepal, daily alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity are strong independent predictors of hypertension, highlighting the need for targeted community-based screening and health promotion.
Supports targeted screening in ex-Gurkha veterans; leaves open causality and whether interventions reduce hypertension risk.
BACKGROUND: Nepal faces a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), yet Gurkha veterans-a population with distinct sociocultural backgrounds, occupational exposures, and post-service lifestyle transitions;remain largely overlooked in NCD research. Their increased susceptibility to sedentary behavior and unhealthy dietary habits may contribute to heightened NCD risks. This study assesses key behavioral (smoking, alcohol use, diet, and physical inactivity) and metabolic (obesity, elevated blood pressure) risk factors and identifies predictors of hypertension among Gurkha veterans. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Palpa district, Lumbini Province, Nepal, in 2019. A multistage sampling technique was employed to determine the sample size, and a total of 189 Gurkha veterans were interviewed for data collection. Data were analyzed using SAS software (Version 9.4). A Bivariate analysis was conducted to assess the statistical associations among NCD risk factors, followed by multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of hypertension while controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: The study revealed a high prevalence of daily alcohol consumption (41.80%), and inadequate fruit intake (89.95%. Likewise, 28.57% of the Gurkha veterans had lower intake of vegetables and 26.98% of them were performing low physical activity of vigorous level. Moreover, 35.98% had overweight and obesity and, nearly half of the participants (47.62%) were hypertensive. Multivariable logistic regression showed that daily alcohol drinkers (AOR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.56-6.25, p=0.001), those engaging in less than 75 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity (AOR: 4.82, 95% CI: 1.89-12.30, p=0.001), and those with overweight or obese status (AOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.70-7.22, p<0.001) had significantly higher odds of having hypertension. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity were the strongest predictors of hypertension among ex-Gurkha soldiers. Given the distinct lifestyle transitions and health challenges faced by this population, targeted early screening, at the community level with a continuum of care and health promotion strategies are essential to mitigate the NCD burden among retired Gurkha soldiers.
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Adhikari et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=189). Daily alcohol consumption vs. No daily alcohol consumption was evaluated on Hypertension (AOR 3.13, 95% CI 1.56-6.25, p=0.001). Daily alcohol consumption significantly increased the odds of hypertension among ex-Gurkha soldiers (AOR 3.13), alongside physical inactivity and obesity.
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