One In Four Adults In India Suffers From Hypertension, Says ICMR

What is the News?

According to the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) study, at least one in every four Indian adults suffers from hypertension, but only about 10% get their blood pressure under control.

What is the India Hypertension Control Initiative(IHCI)?

Launched in: 2017

It is a multi-partner initiative of the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Aim: To achieve the government’s goal of a 25% relative reduction in raised blood pressure by 2025.

Note: India has committed to a “25 by 25” goal. The goal aims to reduce premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025. One of the nine voluntary targets includes reducing the prevalence of high blood pressure by 25% by 2025.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is defined as having a systolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 90 mmHg or/and taking anti-hypertensive medication to lower his/her blood pressure.

How prevalent is the problem of hypertension?

According to the National Family Health Survey, Southern States have a higher prevalence of hypertension than the national average.

Kerala ranks highest with 32.8% of men and 30.9% of women being diagnosed with hypertension. 

The prevalence of hypertension is higher among Sikhs (37% for men and 31% for women), Jains (30% for men and 25% for women), and Christians (29% for men and 26% for women) than the rest.

Source: The post is based on the article “One In Four Adults In India Suffers From Hypertension, Says ICMR” published in Livemint on 11th May 2022.