Men and Younger adults are less likely to undergo hypertension screening in Puducherry, a study finds.
A community-based study was conducted on 394 individuals aged 30 years and above in Puducherry, which revealed that men and younger adults were less likely to undergo hypertension screening than women and older people. Nearly two-thirds were screened for hypertension, and more than one quarter of screened adults reported having high blood pressure. The findings emphasize the need for early screening and diagnosis to plan proper intervention .
High blood pressure has become a global health concern as it may lead to serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease if left untreated for a long time. Often, people with high blood pressure do not show any symptoms in its early stages, hence many people go undiagnosed. Regular screening helps with early diagnosis.
Though guidelines create awareness of the importance of regular screening for hypertension, the screening practices remain limited within the community. Hence, researchers sought to understand how many adults underwent hypertension screening and identify groups that were less likely to be screened.
This study was conducted on the urban population; all the participants were asked whether they had undergone high blood pressure screening in the past two years. People with a positive response were considered for the screening.
Nearly two-thirds of people have undergone blood pressure screening in the previous two years; however, there is still a significant number of the population, that is more than one-third, who remain unscreened for hypertension, highlighting the need to expand screening coverage within the community.
Among those who underwent screening, more than one in four reported having hypertension. This finding suggests that high blood pressure remains a considerable health concern within the comm unity.
The study further found that men and younger adults were less likely to undergo high blood pressure screening than women and older adults. Because of this, these groups may face a higher risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment, as high blood pressure at its early stages often remains unnoticeable due to the absence of symptoms.
The authors suggest focusing high blood screening more towards men and younger adults, so that no one will miss the opportunity to get screened. Improving screening coverage in these groups encourages early detection and timely intervention of hypertension, given that long-term complications associated with uncontrolled hypertension can be prevented.
Read the full article here: A community-based cross-sectional study on hypertension screening in Puducherry, India. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_18
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