Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases globally. Differences in hypertension prevalence between urban and rural populations may be influenced by varied environmental, lifestyle and healthcare access factors. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted interventions. A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 200 participants, evenly divided between urban (n=100) and rural (n=100) settings. We analyzed the prevalence of hypertension and investigated associated risk factors including smoking, high salt intake, and physical inactivity. Healthcare access and its impact on hypertension management were also assessed. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in rural (36%) than in urban populations (31%), with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.52 (95% CI: 0.90‐2.55), though this was not statistically significant (P=0.12). Urban populations exhibited a higher percentage of lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking (27% vs. 22% in rural, OR=1.67, P=0.06) and high salt intake (31% vs. 34%, OR=1.33, P=0.28). Physical inactivity was reported similarly in both groups (42% in urban vs. 47% in rural). Notably, rural participants with good healthcare access showed significantly better hypertension management compared to urban counterparts (43% vs. 61%, OR=1.88, P=0.02). Our findings suggest that rural populations might have a slightly higher prevalence of hypertension and better manage it with adequate healthcare access than their urban counterparts. The higher incidence of lifestyle risk factors in urban areas underscores the need for urban‐specific health interventions. Further research should focus on longitudinal data to establish causality and explore the effectiveness of targeted health interventions.
How to cite this article:
Dipali Jambhale and Amol D. Kothalkar. Cross‐Sectional Analysis of Hypertension Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Urban and Rural Populations.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.11.9.13
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.11.9.13