Specificity of Hypertension Risk Factors in the Elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a significant public health issue that affects at least 20% of adults in many countries. It can be classified into essential (primary or idiopathic) and secondary hypertension, with essential hypertension representing 95% of all cases.

Aims: To identify the factors associated with hypertension in a tertiary care centre in Northern India

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Study Sites and Duration of Study: Medicine Department, AIIMS Rishikesh; between January 2021 and December 2022.

Methodology: The study recruited 317 hypertensive and non-hypertension patients who reside and receive healthcare services from the tertiary Care Centre in Northern India and reported for treatment. Data was collected from respondents using a questionnaire and analyzed with STATA software Version 15.

Results and Findings: The study revealed that majority of the participants (68.8%) had hypertension. The study identified that respondents who are married were approximately 3 times more likely to have hypertension compared to those who are single (AOR= 3.1; 95% CI=1.28-5.82, p=0.001). Adjusting for all other factors, respondents who were employed were 4.2 times more likely to have hypertension compared to those who are unemployed (AOR= 4.2; 95% CI=1.36-8.62, p=0.002). History of smoking, history of alcohol consumption, physical inactivity among participants was discovered to be significantly associated with hypertension.

Conclusion: Hypertension is a serious health concern among some of the aged people in Ghana. Hence it is recommended that interventions to tackle this condition could focus on behavioral or lifestyle modifications.