Common but Underrated – Are we Neglecting these Hypertensive Subsets in India?

Abstract

The detection, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension are poor in Indian subcontinent; the huge 1.3 billion population posing a substantial challenge to health providers. The new data analysis in JAMA estimates that a systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 110 and 115 mmHg accounts for 212 million disability-adjusted life year worldwide; of which, 39 million (around 20%) are from India.[1] The scenario of hypertension detection management in India is challenging; as per the National Capital Region cross-sectional database, there is a progressive increase in prevalence – from 23% in urban areas and 11% rural areas in 1991–1994 period to 42.2% urban and 29.9% rural in 2012–2014. More concerning is the fact that these crosssectional data show that there has been no substantial change in terms of awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in the tested population between the two time periods.[2] The data from Jaipur (Jaipur Heart watch), in contrast, show progressive rise in awareness (13–56%), treatment (95–36%), and control (2–21%) from 1991 to 1994 compared to 2012–2014 period, despite the point that the numbers fell short of the WHO global monitoring framework and UN sustainable development goal.[3]