Hemlata Joshi
Keywords
Hypertension • Diabetes • Prevalence • Risk factors • Healthcare-seeking behaviour
Objective To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking patterns of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, and to offer knowledge that might guide public health initiatives intended to lessen the burden of these illnesses.
Methods In order to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and healthcare-seeking behaviour of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, a cross-sectional study is carried out using the information gathered from 26,574 households on 30,455 women and 4516 men (who were in their reproductive period) from the National Family Health Survey (2019–20). The information was summarised using descriptive statistics, which included frequencies and percentages. The association between different risk variables and the likelihood of getting diabetes and hypertension was examined using the chi-squared test and a logistic regression model. Data were analysed using STATA software version 16.
Results The study found that age, gender, education level, religion, and BMI are all significantly associated with hypertension and diabetes (p < 0.001). Tobacco use and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with hypertension, but tobacco use was significantly associated with diabetes (p < 0.001). However, alcohol consumption was not found to be significantly associated with diabetes whereas the older age groups, males, underweight, overweight and obese, and tobacco use were all associated with increased odds of diabetes. On the other hand, females, secondary education or higher, and alcohol consumption were associated with decreased odds of diabetes.
Conclusion In conclusion, the study found a high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Karnataka, India, and identified several risk factors associated with these diseases. The study also highlighted the need for improved healthcare-seeking behaviour among people with hypertension and diabetes. The findings can inform public health interventions aimed at reducing the burden of these diseases in Karnataka and similar setting.
