Prevalence and determinants of hypertension and associated comorbidities in non-pregnant women of reproductive age group (15-49 years): Evidence from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), India

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 11; no. 9; pp. 5865 - 5873
• Main Authors: Virk, Amrit, Samdarshi, Narottam, Saini, Parmal, Mohapatra, Archisman, Sahoo, Soumya, Goel, Sonu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.09.2022; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: comorbidities; hypertension; non-pregnant; Original; reproductive age group; women; reproductive age group; non-pregnant; Comorbidities; hypertension; women
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_162_22

Background: Hypertension in women is generally underestimated and undiagnosed as women are considered to be at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than men in addition to gender-related differences in healthcare seeking behaviour and access to healthcare. As hypertension extends a substantial impact on the cardiovascular health of women and can pose an enormous burden on the healthcare systems in India, identification of its risk factors along with co-morbidities becomes necessary for planning of cardiovascular risk prevention, reduction and mitigation interventions. Aim: This study aimed at estimating the prevalence and associated demographic and lifestyle risk factors of hypertension (HT) along with examining comorbidity patterns in women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in India. Material and Methods: We analyzed data of 667,258 non-pregnant women of the reproductive age group (15-49 years) from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 dataset. We used maps to present the spatial patterns of HT in women across states and union territories and logistic regression modelling to identify associated factors. Results: The overall prevalence of HT was 10.9% among women (15-49 years), with 60.7% of these having at least one comorbidity. While the prevalence of 'HT only' was higher in women 15-29 years of age (48.0%), the prevalence of HT with co-morbidities was higher in women aged ≥30 years (63.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed higher odds of 'HT and ≥ two comorbidities' with age ≥30 years (AOR 3.46, 95% CI 3.23-3.72), higher odds of 'HT only' with alcohol consumption (AOR 1.32, 95%CI 1.23-1.42), and higher odds of 'HT and one comorbidity' with BMI ≥23 Kg/m2 (AOR 1.17, 95%CI 1.14-1.21). Also, region-wise, the prevalence of HT was highest in the states of Uttar Pradesh (11.6%), Madhya Pradesh (8.0%), and Assam (6.9%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of HT among women aged 15-49 years has serious medical, socio-economic, implications that warrant urgent and immediate gender-specific healthcare interventions. Along with lifestyle modifications, early and timely screening of HT, increasing awareness among young school-going girls, including rural areas, could flatten the HT population curve in India.