# Hypertension Prevalence in Delhi, India: Socioeconomic Disparities Among Adults Aged 19 to 55

## TL;DR

This study found that 12.2% of adults in Delhi have hypertension, with higher rates among males and older adults, and shows significant differences based on income and occupation.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on hypertension prevalence in Delhi, highlighting socioeconomic disparities among adults aged 19 to 55.

## Key findings

- Hypertension prevalence was 12.2%, with higher rates in males (15.3%) and those aged 41-55 (22%).
- Middle-income group adults had the highest prehypertension rate (61.6%), and age ≥40 was strongly associated with both prehypertension and hypertension.
- Skilled workers had higher prehypertension odds, while middle-income individuals had lower hypertension odds.

## Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is a critical modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), contributing significantly to premature death and morbidity. There is limited data on hypertension prevalence in Delhi. Hence, the study was conducted to assess the prevalence of hypertension among adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 930 adults aged 19 to 55 years in Delhi, in a population subgroup belonging to three income groups (urban slum, low-income group (LIG), middle-income group (MIG)) with 310 participants in each group. After obtaining informed consent, data was collected through interviews with pretested semi-structured questionnaires. Blood pressure was measured three times using a digital machine (OMRON, Kyoto, Japan), and the average reading was used. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel (Redmond, WA, USA) and SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), to identify significant associations.

Results: The overall median systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 124 mmHg (interquartile range: 115-133 mmHg), while the median diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 78 mmHg (interquartile range: 72-86 mmHg). The prevalence of hypertension was 12.2% (n = 113), with a higher proportion in males (15.3%, n = 71) compared to females (9.0%, n = 42), and in the age group 41-55 years (22%, n = 80) compared to 19-40 years (5.7%, n = 33). The overall prevalence of prehypertension was 54.3% (n = 505), stage I hypertension was 11.1% (n = 103), and stage II hypertension was 1.1% (n = 10). MIG adults had the highest prevalence of prehypertension (61.6%, n = 191), followed by LIG (55.5%, n = 172) and urban slum (45.8%, n = 142). Age ≥40 years was strongly associated with prehypertension (OR = 3.24, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR = 6.86, p < 0.001). Males had higher odds of prehypertension and hypertension (OR = 2.47 and 3.92, p = 0.010 and <0.001). Skilled workers had higher prehypertension odds (OR = 3.82, p < 0.001), while middle-income individuals had lower hypertension odds (OR = 0.09, p = 0.047).

Conclusion: The study highlights the prevalence of hypertension, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address modifiable risk factors.