Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

This study was done to estimate the prevalence of Prehypertension (PHT) in a local community and to correlate Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) with Prehypertension. Screening camp for high blood pressure along with IDRS calculation was done by staffs in our medical Out Patient Department (OPD) for undetected prehypertension. Blood pressure was measured 3 times by skilled, trained physicians after subjects had rested for 15 minutes in the sitting position and the average value of the measurements were taken as final. By asking four simple questions and one measurement (waist circumference), IDRS was derived. Out of 392 screened individuals 136 had Prehypertension of which 77 had stage I prehypertension and 59 of them had stage II prehypertension. It was shown that there was a decrease in number of normotensives and an increase in number of prehypertensives as the IDR score moved upward indicating that there is a strong association between metabolic and cardiovascular disease. More than half of the normotensive individuals also had IDRS more than 60, necessitating the need for life style modifications. Prehypertension remains as more prevalent and undetected health problem in our community. IDRS can be used as a screening tool to identify modifiable risk factors for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic disease. Life style modification used as a measure to prevent the development of hypertension if IRDS is also used alongside. Since overweight, obesity impaired fasting glucose and diabetes mellitus found to be strongly associated with prehypertensive individuals, IDRS also detects normotensives with high IDR scores who are likely to become either hypertensive or diabetic in the near future.
Keywords: Prehypertension, Hypertension, Indian Diabetic Risk Score, Modifiable Risk Factors, Lifestyle Modification