Prevalence, risk factors, and predictors of hypertension among the Nyishi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

This study investigates the prevalence of obesity and hypertension, along with associated risk factors, among the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was performed involving 208 Nyishi adults (108 males, 100 females), aged 2050 years. The anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were measured in accordance with standard procedures. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, binary logistic regression, and ROC curve, were performed. The nutritional statuses of the overweight and obese are 27.8% and 8.3% in males and 26% and 7% in females. In accordance with the waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio, 15.7% men and 63% women; 31.5% men and 79% women; and 27.8% men and 70% women of adult Nyishi are at risk for central obesity. Binary logistic regression underscored significant associations between hypertension and overweight, obesity, WC, WHtR, age, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, anxiety, salt intake, pan use, and tobacco. Among males, inactivity (OR = 8.33) and alcohol consumption (OR = 6.04), and among females, tobacco use (OR = 7.41) and paan consumption (OR = 6.40) emerged as high-risk factors for hypertension. ROC curve analysis revealed that waist circumference exhibited the highest AUC (0.718) for males, while BMI had the highest AUC (0.708) for females. This indicates that Nyishi individuals, especially males with a waist circumference exceeding 80.50 cm and females with a BMI surpassing 22.75 kg/m², face an elevated risk of developing hypertension. The research underscores the predictive significance of BMI and central obesity in the risk of hypertension. Thus, there is a pressing need to enhance public knowledge of the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle; mindfulness by itself can help with this problem.