PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AND ITS VARIOUS DETERMINANTS AMONG TEA GARDEN POPULATION IN ASSAM

Priyobrat Rajkhowa*

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension is an iceberg disease and becoming as a major public health problem in India and Assam in particular, various reports from health organisations in tea gardens reveal a high prevalence of hypertension among workers in tea gardens despite not being obese and sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study was to find out the various determinants of hypertension, to find out the relationship between excessive intake of salt tea and hypertension and obesity and level of work also make the community aware of hypertension and its potential risks. Methods: We selected, by systematic sampling, 100 individuals (50 hypertensive and 50 non hypertensive) 40 years or above in age, who were interviewed and clinically examined for hypertension. Blood pressure of all the study participants was measured using a standardized technique. Risk factors considered for hypertension included age, gender, marital status, occupation, alcohol consumption, extra salt intake specially with food and alcohol as a taste enhancer, drinking salt tea, smoking history. Results: This study revealed that those who have been drinking salt tea on a regular basis has developed high systolic pressure 73.33% on the other hand those who don’t consume salt tea has lower risk of developing hyper- tension 86%. The overall determinant of hypertension was found to be excessive intake of salt tea, use of tobacco where the role of obesity is not significant among them. Increasing age, consumption of alcohol, intake of extra salt in food and beverages were found to increase the risk of hypertension. Conclusion: The disease burden of hypertension among workers in tea gardens is large, despite the community is not engaged in sedentary lifestyle and also not being obese. Interventions directed at these workers as well as studies to determine the reasons for the high prevalence of hypertension are required.

Keywords: Hypertension, Tea workers, Salt, Obesity.