A study of risk factors associated with essential Hypertension in an urban population of North East India

Objectives: To assess the impact of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits and lipid profile, associated with development of Essential Hypertension in an urban population of North-Eastern region of India. Materials & Methods: Hypertension was defined as per Clinical Practice guidelines 2017. A total number of 400 subjects – 200 normotensive and 200 hypertensives were enrolled in this case-control study. The subjects underwent Blood Pressure measurement, anthropometric measurements and Electrocardiography. Detailed sociodemographic data, medical history and personal history were noted. Serum lipid profile was estimated for all the subjects. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSSvs16. Findings: Among the 200 Normotensives 69 (17.2%) had elevated BP. In the Essential Hypertensive group 24 (6%) were Stage 1 and 176 (44%) were stage 2 hypertensives. A statistically significant number of 88% (176) hypertensive subjects were above 40 years of age (p value <0.001). Among the socio-demographic factors high risk of hypertension was associated with gender male [OR 1.59 (1.064, 2.402)], Body Mass Index≥25 [OR 2.98(1.986, 4.497)], sedentary work activity [OR 8.3 (5.124, 13.48)], extra salt intake [OR 1.99 (1.165, 2.584)], alcohol [OR 1.99 (1.084, 3.683)] and tobacco users [OR 2.1(1.374, 3.187)]. The serum lipids Cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dl, triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl, Low Density Lipoproteins ≥100 mg/dl and cholesterol: High Density Lipoprotein ratio >3 was significantly associated with hypertension. Conclusion: The present study highlights the association of age, high BMI, sedentary habits, consumption of extra salt, alcohol, tobacco use and dyslipidemia as major risk factors associated with Essential Hypertensive subjects in urban adults in Assam. Novelty: The study highlights the different predictors of Essential Hypertension in North Eastern Indian urban adults.