The present cross-sectional study aimed to understand the influence of different factors related to hypertension among 300 male elderly people, ages varying from 60 years and above, living in Chak Ismailpur Gram Panchayat, Datanl, block of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal. Data were collected using interview schedule. Appropriate anthropometric measurements were collected using standard procedure. Appropriate statistical tests were used to test the significant differences among the respondents. The findings of this study revealed overall hypertension stage-l and stage-2 were 60.3 per cent and 26.3 per cent of participants respectively. Nutritional status, family history of hypertension, smoking habits, and sleeping duration were significantly associated with hypertension. Anthropometric variables including Hip Circumference (HC), Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), and weight were positively correlated (statistically significantly) with Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP). It is evident from the result of this study that hypertension is a serious concern among elderly people and anthropometry is a very good indicator of hypertension.
Blood pressure, Nutritional status, Anthropometry, Hypertension, Rural
