HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES BURDEN IN INDIAN POPULATION

Nitin Ranjan Gupta and Seema Singh*

ABSTRACT

India is experiencing a population transformation, and the number of elderly people is projected to grow both in actual numbers and in proportion. Elderly people are among the most vulnerable and high-risk populations of any population with respect to health status, and more so for non-communicable diseases.Estimating the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in the elderly and associating with socio-demographic variables; and evaluating the diagnosis, care, and control status of those with hypertension and diabetes.Community based research was performed in Elderly people aged 60 and over were chosen by random selection of clusters. Information on self-reported illnesses, socio-demographic variables was gathered; blood sugar and blood pressure were measured fasting. We estimated the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and tested the relation.A total of 220 elderly people took part in the study. 24.5 percent of diabetes was observed and 66.8 percent is hypertensive. In more than 25 percent independent hypertension was found. No statistically meaningful differential was found in both diabetes and hypertension by gender, age, income, and economic dependence.In a low-middle class population in Delhi, this research highlighted a major burden of non-communicable diseases among elderly persons. It also indicated a lack of knowledge of their medical conditions and the need for primary screening, diagnosis and care facilities.

Keywords: Hypertension; Diabetes; Awareness.