Hypertension among women in reproductive age in India: Can we predict the risk? An analysis from National Family Health Survey (2015–2016)

BACKGROUND: Hypertension in women of reproductive age group is of special concern because of the vulnerability of women to pregnancy-induced hypertension apart from socio-cultural vulnerability. AIM: The objective of the study was to identify the predictors for hypertension among Indian women and to develop a risk score which would provide an opportunity for early detection and appropriate action. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was based on the data collected in National Family Health Survey in 2015–2016. Women in India of 15–49 years were the study population. Data were analysed using SPSS v17. Logistic regression analysis was carried and expressed as odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals to identify predictors of hypertension. The risk score for hypertension was developed after shrinkage of variables and by using regression coefficients obtained by standard Logistic Regression Model. RESULTS: Among 6,87,230 women between 15 and 49 years, 77,788 (11.3%) were hypertensive. The study results revealed that there was an increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension (26.5%) with increasing age, and with increasing weight (23.4%). Urban areas (12.3% vs 10.9%), alcoholics (19.2%) and various forms of tobacco users (14.8%) had more prevalence of hypertension. CONCLUSION: Age, residing in urban area, consuming tobacco products, consumption of alcohol, non-vegetarian diet and overweight, were found to be the significant predictor variables, and were used to develop the Risk Prediction score using logistic regression model.