KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES, AND RISK FACTORS AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: AN ASSESSMENT OF ASSOCIATED CO-MORBIDITIES

Objective: (1) To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of hypertensive patients. (2) To assess the risk factors and associated co-morbidities in them. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shivaji Nagar urban slum which is a field practice area of Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, of TN Medical College Mumbai. Hypertensive patients above 40 years of age were included in this study. The information was gathered by personal interview using semi-structured proforma. Results: Out of 340 subjects 176 (51. 76% ) were males. Majority of subjects 43.82% belonged to joint family and 64.11% subjects were from III, IV, V socioeconomic class. 39.7% patients were unemployed and unskilled. 131 (38.52%) patients had the family history of Hypertension. majority of the patients 117 (34.41%) had Smokeless tobacco addiction, followed by Cigarettes smoking 45 (13.23%). Alcohol consumption and smokeless tobacco chewing both in 43 (12.64%) patients. 90 (26.47%) patients had Diabetes Mellitus along with Hypertension followed by Anaemia 68 (20%) and Osteoarthritis / Osteoporosis 51 (15 %). 221 (65%) hypertensive patients had BMI equal to or more than 25 Kg/ m2. Poor knowledge, attitude and practices were in 83.42%, 69.11%, 73.24% patients respectively. Mean systolic BP, Diastolic BP, Body mass index and weight was 145.58 mm of Hg, 92 mm of Hg, 25.09 Kg/ m2 and 67.8 Kg respectively. Conclusion: Most of the patients had associated comorbidities. Poor practices regarding hypertension is the main reason for higher Blood pressure, Body mass Index. Poor practices were because of lack of awareness about hypertension. There is need for encouraging health services including health education regarding risk factors.