INDIA’S HYPERTENSION MAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Health)

Context: The analysis of recently published National Family Health Survey data reveals a significant variation in the level of prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension within Indian states, and even within districts in states.

Hypertension

• About: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the pressure in your blood vessels exceeds 140/90 mmHg. If left untreated, it can pose serious health risks.
• World Hypertension Day: Every year on May 17. 
• Aim: To raise awareness about hypertension and urging individuals to take measures to prevent and manage this silent threat to health.

Hypertension Care in India

• National data highlights the widespread under diagnosis, inadequate treatment initiation, and poor blood pressure control among individuals with hypertension, indicating a concerning healthcare gap.
• The study found that the prevalence of hypertension was similar among the southern states but it was higher than the national average - 29.9% of the population in the southern states as compared with 26.8% across India.
• The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension in the southern states was similar to the rest of India, but the proportion of people on treatment and under control was higher in these states.
• In Meghalaya, the prevalence of hyper- tension was similar in the districts of Garo Hills (21.8%), Jaintia Hills (19.8%), and Khasi Hills (23.1%). 
• In Karnataka, four districts - Chi- kmagalur, Shimoga, Udupi and Chitradurga - have a similar prevalence of hypertension.