A Retrospective Study of Association of Hypertension and Socio Economic Status

Back Ground: Roughly half of all heart attacks and strokes come out of the people with no diagnosed heart disease, so identifying risk factors early in healthy people is a must to delay disease and prevent death.
Material and method: The study is retrospective in nature and was conducted in Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar (A.P.) The data was collected in a pre drawn and pre tested proforma from June 2010 to May 2011. etc. Statistical analysis: Simple proportion and chi square test was applied as and when required.
Observations and Discussion: Prevalence of hypertension was more in upper class 26.66%, and as socioeconomic status decreases prevalence of hypertension decreases. The difference was found to be statistically significant (x²= 25.56, d.f = 2, p=0.0000028).
Conclusion and recommendations: Statistically significant association was observed between socioeconomic status and Hypertension. Modifiable factors played an important role in causing hypertension along with some biological factors like obesity, diabetes etc. The impact of these factors can be minimized by changing their life style like spend at least 30 minutes exercise every day, reduction in body weight etc.