New Delhi: Less than one-fourth of hypertensive patients in India have their blood pressure under control, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health Journal. Hypertension or high blood pressure is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), making it one of the important contributors to premature death and morbidity. The team, including researchers from the National Center for Disease Control, New Delhi, and the Boston University School of Public Health, US, conducted a systematic review of 51 studies published after 2001 that reported hypertension control rates in India. The researchers focused on community-based non-intervention studies that provide a realistic picture of control rates at the community level.
They also examined changes in control rates over the years, which, the authors said, had never been done before. The research found that 21 studies (41 per cent) reported poorer hypertension control rates among men than women, and six studies (12 per cent) reported poorer control rates among rural patients. The accumulated hypertension control rate in India during 2001-2020 was 17.5 per cent – with a significant increase over the years, reaching 22.5 per cent in 2016-2020, the researchers said.
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Subgroup analysis showed a significantly better control rate in the South and West regions and a significantly lower control rate among men. Very few studies have reported data on social determinants or lifestyle risk factors, they said. The authors of the study said, “Less than one-fourth of hypertension patients in India had their blood pressure under control during 2016 – 2020. Although control rates have improved compared to previous years, there are substantial differences across regions.” is present.” “Very few studies have examined lifestyle risk factors and social determinants relevant to hypertension control in India,” he added.
In the study, the hypertension control rate was defined as the proportion of patients whose blood pressure was under control ie. Systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg (unit of pressure) and diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg. The review included 49 cross-sectional and two cohort studies covering a population of 1.39 million (73 percent women), including 338,313 (3.3 million) patients with hypertension. Forty-nine studies had state-specific data covering 15 states and territories. The mean high blood pressure prevalence in the studies was 24.2 percent, and 46.8 percent of them were aware of their high blood pressure. The researchers said that India needs to develop and evaluate sustainable, community-based strategies and programs to improve hypertension control rates.
“High blood pressure is a significant contributor to mortality in India. Achieving better hypertension control rates at the population level is important in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” the authors said. The team also included researchers from Government Medical College, Manjeri, Kerala and KIMS Al-Shifa Specialty Hospital, Perinthalmanna.