Elderly Indians living in urban centres are more likely to suffer from hypertension as compared to those living in rural areas, noted a study published in Journal of the American Society of Hypertension.

The study — independent urban effect on hypertension of older Indians — added that this effect is independent of greater wealth, occupation and other privileges normally associated with Indian cities.

“Therefore, the underlying causes in this ‘independent’ urban effect on hypertension may be due to some other city-specific stressors like social insecurity and environmental pollutants, including noise,” the study said.

The lead of the study, Ambarish Dutta, noted that approximately 44% of the elderly Indians living in the cities suffer from hypertension, whereas its prevalence was 35% among their rural counterparts. What added to the risk factors of the urban population was the increased use of alcohol, less physical activities and extra weight.

The study notes that among elderly Indians, more cardiovascular diseases and risk factors are observed in the city dwellers than in the rural population with clustering of socio-economic privileges and consequent obesity, are known to underlie this phenomenon.

Study parameters

Nationally representative data of Indians aged 50 years and older were collected for the study in which hypertension was defined as systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure >139 and > 89 mm Hg, respectively, and/or someone receiving antihypertensive medications.

Also, permanent place of residence (urban/rural) during interview was recorded along with socio-economic determinants included caste, occupation, assets, and education while body mass index, abdominal circumference, smoking, alcohol, and physical activity were also controlled.

Risk factor

“Our study found that those living in urban areas have more than 60% excess odds of suffering from hypertension as compared with their rural counterparts. The remaining odds of hypertension in older urban Indians was independent of these classical risk factors —the ‘independent urban effect’— signifying where someone livesas an independent risk factor of hypertension in later life,’’ added Dr. Dutta.