Prevalence and determinants of hypertension and associated comorbidities in non-pregnant women of reproductive age group (15–49 years): Evidence from National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), India

BACKGROUND: Hypertension in women is generally underestimated and undiagnosed as women are considered to be at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than men in addition to gender-related differences in healthcare seeking behaviour and access to healthcare. As hypertension extends a substantial impact on the cardiovascular health of women and can pose an enormous burden on the healthcare systems in India, identification of its risk factors along with co-morbidities becomes necessary for planning of cardiovascular risk prevention, reduction and mitigation interventions. AIM: This study aimed at estimating the prevalence and associated demographic and lifestyle risk factors of hypertension (HT) along with examining comorbidity patterns in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed data of 667,258 non-pregnant women of the reproductive age group (15–49 years) from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 dataset. We used maps to present the spatial patterns of HT in women across states and union territories and logistic regression modelling to identify associated factors. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of HT was 10.9% among women (15–49 years), with 60.7% of these having at least one comorbidity. While the prevalence of ‘HT only’ was higher in women 15-29 years of age (48.0%), the prevalence of HT with co-morbidities was higher in women aged ≥30 years (63.3%). Logistic regression analysis showed higher odds of ‘HT and ³ two comorbidities’ with age ³30 years (AOR 3.46, 95% CI 3.23–3.72), higher odds of ‘HT only’ with alcohol consumption (AOR 1.32, 95%CI 1.23–1.42), and higher odds of ‘HT and one comorbidity’ with BMI ³23 Kg/m(2) (AOR 1.17, 95%CI 1.14–1.21). Also, region-wise, the prevalence of HT was highest in the states of Uttar Pradesh (11.6%), Madhya Pradesh (8.0%), and Assam (6.9%). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of HT among women aged 15–49 years has serious medical, socio-economic, implications that warrant urgent and immediate gender-specific healthcare interventions. Along with lifestyle modifications, early and timely screening of HT, increasing awareness among young school-going girls, including rural areas, could flatten the HT population curve in India.