To Study the Prevalence of Hypertension in the Elderly Population in Punjab

Aims and background: In a large, expanding elderly population, hypertension (HTN) stands out as a critical public health issue with 14% prevalence among the elderly, necessitating up-to-date and region-specific data.So the present study was conceptualized to generate Punjab-specific data. Materials and methods:The present observational study recruited participants aged 18 to 80 years after ethical approval.Standard Indian criteria were applied for defining HTN, age of the elderly, body mass index (BMI), and heart rate (HR) groups.Chi-square test was used to evaluate the statistical association.Results: The study included 5,961 elderly participants, and the prevalence of HTN was 20.5%, 35.4% systolic hypertension (SHTN), and 27.7% diastolic hypertension (DHTN).Males had a higher prevalence of HTN, SHTN, and DHTN compared to females.The prevalence of HTN, SHTN, and DHTN was higher in the higher BMI group as compared to the combined lower BMI group, as well as in the normal HR group as compared to the combined HR group.Conclusion: Aging increases vulnerability to chronic diseases and HTN in particular, contributing to increased adverse socioeconomic and health impacts.Considerable variation is observed in the prevalence of HTN among the elderly in different studies and across Indian states.Results from the present study provide an insight into the increased prevalence of HTN among age, gender, BMI, and HR groups.Clinical significance: Data from Punjab highlights the variation in regional data and helps in age-specific screening, prevention, and public health management strategies to address HTN in the elderly population of Punjab.