Prehypertension affected 33.7% of the population in India, with varying prevalence across districts, notes a study published in the International Journal of Public Health that analysed data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), on 743,067 adults aged 18–54 years. The sample consisted of 87.6% females and 12.4% males.
The study was aimed at determining the prevalence and determinants of ever-measured blood pressure, prehypertension, and raised blood pressure at the national, State and district levels in India. Determinants included age, gender, education, wealth, lifestyle, obesity, and blood glucose levels.
Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and it is estimated that 64.9% of all deaths in India are attributed to non-communicable diseases. Among them, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) alone contributed to 27.4% of total mortality. Hypertension is a major preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
