Highest number of high blood pressure patients in Punjab: ICMR

CHANDIGARH: India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), a multi-partner initiative led by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has successfully improved blood pressure control rates across four states. However, it has found that Punjab continues to have one of the worst control rates with one of the highest prevalence in the country. The study has also stated that treatment adherence is one of the biggest problem areas in the hypertension epidemic.

The study has added that almost half of the total patients registered in the IHCI sentinel sites did not return for the scheduled follow-ups. It is based on the patients who visited IHCI in four states and were examined for six months. The study stated that around 64 per cent of patients had hypertension at varied levels when they were registered. 89 per cent of the registered patients in Punjab at selected IHCI sites had high blood pressure and only 30 per cent have been diagnosed earlier.

Follow up visits rate is also one of the lowest in Punjab. Dr Sonu Goel, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, said that in Punjab, more than 35.7 per cent of the population has high blood pressure which is way higher than the national average of 25.3 per cent. Most of them, particularly the younger population, are unaware of their blood pressure level. The study has also stated that overcrowding of districts and block hospitals and a high burden of patients with comorbidities, hypertension may be better managed in primary health care settings, closer to homes of patients.