Blood Pressure and Hypertension among Adult Savara Tribals of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India: A Public Health Concern

We studied dimorphism in blood pressure levels as well as the prevalence of hypertension among adult Savara tribals of village Munchingput Mandalam, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. A cross-sectional study was used to collect data on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse rate. A total of 148 adults (95 males and 53 females) were measured and classified into three age-groups, i.e., Group I: 23–32 years, Group II: 33–42 years and Group III: >≥43 years. Negative significant sex difference in SBP among age group I (t = –2.409; p < 0.05) were observed. Positive significant sex difference in DBP among age group I (t = 2.545; p < 0.05) were also observed. Significant age group difference was noticed for SBP (F =4.332; p < 0.01) among males. Based on SBP the prevalence of prehypertension and stage I hypertension in males were 2.1% and 1.1%, respectively. Similarly, in females the prevalence of prehypertension and stage I hypertension based on SBP were 5.7% and 9.4%, respectively. On the basis of DBP the prevalence of prehypertension in males was 1.0%. Significant sex difference (x² = 7.691; p < 0.05) in prevalence of elevated blood pressure was observed. Thus we can conclude that females of this studied ethnic group are more prone to have prehypertension and stage-I hypertension than their male counterparts.