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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 24 (EMN): Nagaland has the third highest prevalence of hypertension among men and women between the age of 15 and 49 years -- behind only Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (men) and Assam (women) -- according to the Health and Family Welfare Statistics in India 2019-20, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The statistics showed that the prevalence rate of hypertension among men in Nagaland stands at 23.6%, while the prevalence rate among women is 16.8%, from a scale of zero to 40%.
The indicator is defined as the percentage of men and women in age group 15-49 years having hypertension taking medicines to lower the blood pressure.
It added that a man and a woman are classified as having hypertension if he or she is currently taking anti-hypertension medication to control blood pressure or if he or she has SBP levels ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg at the time of the survey.
As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16, 17% of women aged 15-49 in Nagaland have hypertension, including 11% with stage-1 hypertension, 3% with stage-2 hypertension, and 2% with stage-3.
The prevalence of hypertension among men aged 15-49 years is 'somewhat higher' than among women, according to the survey.
The data showed that 24% men in Nagaland have hypertension, including 17% with stage-1 hypertension, five percent with stage-2 hypertension, and one percent with stage-3 hypertension.
As for blood pressure, the survey showed that 48% of women have normal blood pressure, including 0.4% of women with normal blood pressure who are taking medicines to lower their blood pressure.
For men, 28% have normal blood pressure, including 0.1% of men with normal blood pressure who are taking medicines to lower their blood pressure.
The survey added that hypertension tends to increase with age for both women and men.
The study also included measurement of random blood glucose among women aged 15-49 and men. It showed that 4% of women in this age in Nagaland have high blood glucose levels and an additional 3% have very high blood glucose levels.
In comparison, 5% of men have high blood glucose levels and an additional 5% have very high blood glucose levels.
Further, it indicated that older women and men have relatively high blood glucose levels.
Out of 12 states and union territories across India, hypertension prevalence is highest in Sikkim with 30.9% among men and 18.4% among women. It was followed by Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 29.9% among men and 18.0% among Assam women respectively.
Delhi recorded lowest among men with 5.7% while prevalence among Bihar women was only 8.2%.
The NFHS-4 (2015-16) also indicated that 81.3% women and 72.5% men have reported and sought treatment (out of total who reported they have diabetes) from this age group.