India’s Hypertension Map

India’s Hypertension Map

Context: There is a significant variation in the level of prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension within Indian states, and even within districts in states, an analysis of the recent National Family Health Survey data published in the journal JAMA said.

What is Hypertension?
• Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
• It occurs when the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is consistently too high, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood.

Key Findings of the Study:
• As per National-level Data a larger number of those with hypertension do not get diagnosed; among those who get diagnosed, many do not initiate treatment; and among those who do initiate treatment, few are able to control their blood pressure. Only one in three receives a diagnosis, one in five gets treated, and one in twelve achieves blood pressure control.
• As per state-level data, prevalence of hypertension was similar among the southern states but it was higher than the national average — 29.9% of the population in the southern states as compared with 26.8% across India.
• Men are more likely to have hypertension than women, however, women are much more likely to be diagnosed, get treatment and control their blood pressure.

Key inputs by Doctors:
• Healthcare systems need to be planned differently for the management of chronic conditions like hypertension than for acute diseases.
• Increase screening or diagnostic facilities in area where there is high prevalence of cases and provide for medications.

What needs to be done to control hypertension in India?
• A recently released WHO report on hypertension said nearly 4.6 million deaths can be averted in India by 2040 if just half of the hypertensives are able to control their blood pressure.
• In this context, the government this year launched an ambitious initiative to put 75 million people with hypertension or diabetes on treatment by 2025.