Discuss the common causes and social issue s of hypertension in bhutan
Answers
Stratified two-stage sampling was adopted to include 2474 respondents (Males: 1132, Females: 1342) equally distributed among different age and sex groups. A questionnaire containing demographic, educational and social details and history of diabetes and hypertension was administered on the sampled population the previous evening and blood pressure measured the next morning in nearby camp where fasting blood samples were collected and an oral glucose tolerance test done.
Age and sex standardized prevalence of diabetes, IGT and IFG were 8.2.0, 21.6 and 4%, respectively. Only 66.5% of the population had normal blood sugar. Prevalence of diabetes and IGT increased progressively with increasing age. Prevalence of hypertension was 26% (Males: 28.3%, Females: 23.2%). It was observed that 54.1% of diabetes population had hypertension.
The study shows that not only is prevalence of diabetes and hypertension high in the urban Bhutanese but also there is a high diagnosis and treatment gap in these disorders.
Majority (69%) of the Bhutanese are rural agrarian who lead a physically active life. About 31% population are urban dwellers. Apart from a small labour population, most urban dwellers lead an increasingly sedentary lifestyle because most of them are office goers, business men, clergy and housewives who spend their time mostly in offices, place of work or at their homes.
Bhutanese population is young with only 14% older than 50 years of age.(1) Bhutan has made significant strides in controlling infectious diseases. Universal child immunization has been achieved since 1991 following which vaccine coverage is maintained at a very high level.(2)