Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among transport workers in South India

Authors

  • S. Dhamodharan Department of Community Medicine, Govt Dharmapuri Medical College, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India
  • M. Megala Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
  • M. Duraimurugan Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
  • K. Chellavel Ganapathi Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20201093

Keywords:

Hypertension, Transport workers, Modifiable risk factors, South India

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 17 million deaths a year and complications of hypertension accounts for 9.4 million deaths worldwide every year. High blood pressure is a major public health problem in India and its prevalence is rapidly increasing. Cardiovascular disease including hypertension was most common among transport workers. Bus drivers have higher rates of mortality, morbidity and absence due to illness when compared to employees from a wide range of other occupational groups.

Methods: This cross sectional study was done in south India, during June to December 2018. A total of 450 participants were selected. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and summarized using descriptive statistics. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Out of the total 450 participants, 125 (27.8%) were hypertensives. Among the hypertensives, 98 (78.4%) participants were smokers, 103 participants (82.4%) had consumed alcohol which was significantly associated with the outcome of hypertension. Lack of physical activity 108 (86.4%), excess salt 108 (86.4%) and fat intake 89 (79.2%) had statistically significant association with hypertension. A higher body mass index and waist to hip ratio more than WHO recommended range was also found to be prone to hypertension.

Conclusions: The study revealed higher prevalence of hypertension was found among the drivers group compared to conductors and desk workers. Regular periodic examinations with alleviation of the above lifestyle and occupational risk factors among the three groups with special attention to drivers would help achieve apt ergonomics.

Author Biographies

S. Dhamodharan, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Dharmapuri Medical College, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India

assistant professor, 

dept of community medicine 

M. Megala, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

assistant professor, 

dept of community medicine 

M. Duraimurugan, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

associate professor, 

dept of community medicine 

K. Chellavel Ganapathi, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

professor, 

dept of community medicine 

References

Causes of Death 2008 [online database]. Geneva, World Health Organization (Http: //www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/cod_2008_sources_methods.pdf.)

Lim SS, vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.Lancet. 2012; 380 (9859): 221. Causes of Death 2008. Geneva, World Health Organization. Available at: http://www.who.int/ healthinfo/global_burden_disease/cod_2008_sources_methods.pdf. Accessed on 2 January 2020.

Lim SS, vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2224-60.

World Health Organization. Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2010. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2011.

World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2008. Available at: http://apps. who.int/gho/data/view.main. Accessed on 11 February 2019.

Gupta R, Guptha S. Strategies for initial management of hypertension. Indian J Med Res. 2010;132(5):531-42.

Reddy KS. Emerging Societies-Coexistence of Childhood Malnutrition and Obesity, Regional case studies–India. Nestle Nutritional Workshop Ser Paediatric Program. 2009;63:15-24.

Winkleby MA, Ragland DR, Fisher JM, Syme SL. Excess risk of sickness and disease in bus drivers: a review and synthesis of epidemiological studies. Int J Epidemiol. 1988;17(2):255-62.

Wang PD, Lin RS; Coronary heart disease risk factors in urban bus drivers. Public Health. 2001;115(4):261-4.

Park JE. Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 21st ed. Jabalpur: Bhanot Publishers; 2012: 344-345.

Reddy KS, Prabhakaran D, Chaturvedi V, Jeemon P. Methods for establishing a surveillance system for cardiovascular diseases in Indian industrial populations. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation. 2006;84(6):461-9.

Satheesh BC, Veena RM. A study of prevalence of hypertension among bus drivers in Bangalore city.Int J Cur Rev Sep, 2013;5(17):90-4.

Anderson GH. Effect of age on hypertension: analysis of over 4,800 referred hypertensive patients. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 1999;10(3):286-97.

Zachariah MG, Thankappan KR, Alex SC, Sarma PS, Vasan RS, Prevalence, correlates, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a middle-aged urban population in Kerala. Indian Heart J 2003;55(3):245-51.

Gilberts ECAM. Hypertension and determinants of blood pressure with special reference to socioeconomicstatus in a rural south Indian community. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1994;48:258-61.

Liu T, Tyndale RF, David SP, Wang H, Yu XQ, Chen W, Wen XZ, Chen WQ. Association between daily cigarette consumption and hypertension moderated by CYP2A6 genotypes in Chinese male current smokers, J Hum Hypertens. 2013;27(1):24-30.

Puddey IB, Beilin LJ. Alcohol is bad for blood pressure, Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2006;33(9):847-52.

Klatsky AL, Gunderson EP, Kipp H, Udaltsova N, Friedman GD. Higher prevalence of systemic hypertension among moderate alcohol drinkers: an exploration of the role of underreporting. J Stud Alcohol. 2006;67(3):421-8.

Fagard RH, Cornelissen VA. Effect of exercise on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007 Feb;14(1):12-7.

Lesniak KT, Dubbert PM. Exercise and hypertension, Curr Opin Cardiol. 2001;16(6):356-9.

Appleby PN, Davey GK, Key TJ. Hypertension and blood pressure among meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans in EPIC-Oxford, Public Health Nutrition. 2002;5(5):645-54.

Radhika G, Sathya RM, Sudha V, Ganesan A, Mohan V. Dietary salt intake and hypertension in an urban south Indian population--[CURES - 53]. J Assoc Physicians India. 2007;55:405-11.

Mir MA, Mir F, Khosla T, Newcombe R. The relationship of salt intake and arterial blood pressure in salted-tea drinking Kashmiris. Int J Cardiol. 1986;13(3):279-88.

Beegom R, Singh RB. Association of higher saturated fat intake with higher risk of hypertension in an urban population of Trivandrum in south India. Int J Cardiol. 1997;58:63-70.

Streppel MT, Arends LR, van Veer P, Grobbee DE, Geleijnse JM. Dietary fibre and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials, Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(2):150-6.

Whelton SP, Hyre AD, Pedersen B, Yi Y, Whelton PK, He J. Effect of dietary fibre intake on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. J Hypertens. 2005;23(3):475-81.

Tesfaye F, Nawi NG, Van Minh H, Byass P, Berhane Y, Bonita R, Wall S. Association between body mass index and blood pressure across three populations in Africa and Asia. J Hum Hypertens. 2007;21(1):28-37.

Dyer AR, Elliott P; The INTERSALT study: relations of body mass index to blood pressure, J Hum Hypertens. 1989;3(5):299-308.

Gupta R, Rastogi P, Sarna M, Gupta VP, Sharma SK, Kothari K, Body-mass index, waist-size, waist-hip ratio and cardiovascular risk factors in urban participants. Assoc Physicians India. 2007;55:621-7.

-60.

World Health Organization. Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2010. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2011. 176 p.

World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory Data Repository [online database]. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2008. (http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main) Accessed 11 February 2019.

Gupta R, Guptha S. Strategies for initial management of hypertension. Indian J Med Res. Nov 2010;132(5):531-42.

Reddy KS. Emerging Societies – Coexistence of Childhood Malnutrition and Obesity, Regional case studies–India. Nestle Nutritional Workshop Ser Paediatric Program. 2009;63:15-24.

Winkleby MA, Ragland DR, Fisher JM, Syme SL. Excess risk of sickness and disease in bus drivers: a review and synthesis of epidemiological studies. Int J Epidemiol. 1988 Jun;17(2):255-62.

Wang PD, Lin RS; Coronary heart disease risk factors in urban bus drivers. Public Health. 2001 Jul;115(4):261-4.

Park JE. Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 21st ed. Jabalpur: Bhanot Publishers; 2012. P 344-5.

Reddy KS, Prabhakaran D, Chaturvedi V, Jeemon P et al. Methods for establishing a surveillance system for cardiovascular diseases in Indian industrial populations. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation. June, 2006,84 (6).461-9.

Satheesh B.C, Veena R.M. A study of prevalence of hypertension among bus drivers in Bangalore city.Int J Cur Rev. Sep, 2013 vol 05 (17),90-4.

Anderson GH. Effect of age on hypertension: analysis of over 4,800 referred hypertensive patients. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 1999 Jul-Sep; 10(3):286-97.

Zachariah MG, Thankappan KR, Alex SC, Sarma PS, Vasan RS, Prevalence, correlates, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a middle-aged urban population in Kerala. Indian Heart J 2003 May-Jun; 55(3):245-51.

Ericus C A M Gilberts. Hypertension and determinants of blood pressure with special reference to socioeconomicstatus in a rural south Indian community. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 1994;48:258-61.

Liu T, Tyndale RF, David SP, Wang H, Yu XQ, Chen W, Wen XZ, Chen WQ. Association between daily cigarette consumption and hypertension moderated by CYP2A6 genotypes in Chinese male current smokers, J Hum Hypertens. 2013 Jan;27(1):24-30.

Puddey IB, Beilin LJ. Alcohol is bad for blood pressure, Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2006 Sep;33(9):847-52.

Klatsky AL, Gunderson EP, Kipp H, Udaltsova N, Friedman GD. Higher prevalence of systemic hypertension among moderate alcohol drinkers: an exploration of the role of underreporting. J Stud Alcohol. 2006 May;67(3):421-8.

Fagard RH, Cornelissen VA. Effect of exercise on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007 Feb;14(1):12-7.

Lesniak KT, Dubbert PM. Exercise and hypertension, Curr Opin Cardiol. 2001 Nov;16(6):356-9.

Appleby PN, Davey GK, Key TJ. Hypertension and blood pressure among meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans in EPIC-Oxford, Public Health Nutrition. 2002 Oct;5(5):645-54.

Radhika G, Sathya RM, Sudha V, Ganesan A, Mohan V. Dietary salt intake and hypertension in an urban south Indian population--[CURES - 53]. J Assoc Physicians India. 2007 Jun;55:405-11.

Mir MA, Mir F, Khosla T, Newcombe R. The relationship of salt intake and arterial blood pressure in salted-tea drinking Kashmiris. Int J Cardiol. 1986 Dec;13(3):279-88.

Beegom R, Singh RB. Association of higher saturated fat intake with higher risk of hypertension in an urban population of Trivandrum in south India. Int J Cardiol. 1997;58:63-70.

Streppel MT, Arends LR, van Veer P, Grobbee DE, Geleijnse JM. Dietary fibre and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials, Arch Intern Med. 2005 Jan 24;165(2):150-6.

Whelton SP, Hyre AD, Pedersen B, Yi Y, Whelton PK, He J. Effect of dietary fibre intake on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. J Hypertens. 2005 Mar;23(3):475-81.

Tesfaye F, Nawi NG, Van Minh H, Byass P, Berhane Y, Bonita R, Wall S. Association between body mass index and blood pressure across three populations in Africa and Asia. J Hum Hypertens. 2007 Jan;21(1):28-37.

Dyer AR, Elliott P; The INTERSALT study: relations of body mass index to blood pressure, J Hum Hypertens. 1989 Oct;3(5):299-308.

Gupta R, Rastogi P, Sarna M, Gupta VP, Sharma SK, Kothari K , Body-mass index, waist-size, waist-hip ratio and cardiovascular risk factors in urban participants. Assoc Physicians India. 2007 Sep;55:621-7.

Downloads

Published

2020-03-26

How to Cite

Dhamodharan, S., Megala, M., Duraimurugan, M., & Chellavel Ganapathi, K. (2020). Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among transport workers in South India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(4), 1329–1335. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20201093

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles