UNDERSTANDING RULE OF HALVES FOR HYPERTENSION AMONG ADULT POPULATION (20 YEARS AND ABOVE) - A STUDY FROM A HIGH ALTITUDE AREA IN INDIA
A review of medical literature suggests that approximately half of most common chronic disorders are undetected, that half of those detected are not treated, and that half of those treated are not controlled. This is true of hypertension as well: the ‘rule of halves’. Aim of the present study was to evaluate rule of halves as applied for hypertension among adult patients (20 years and above) presenting to a public health field practice area in a high altitude region of India.
METHODS:
The study was clinic based, conducted in a Case study mode using Convenience Sampling to include 102 men and 118 women aged 20 years and above attending public health field practice area, Boileauganj ( irrespective of their presenting complaints).
Public health field practice area, Boileauganj Shimla, located at an altitude of 2205 mts, provides community based health services to the population covered by health facility.
Hypertension was assessed by using standardised recording, structured schedule on diagnosis and antihypertensive drug treatment according to The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.
RESULTS:
The prevalence of self reported hypertension was 39% (86/220) .However the prevalence of self reported hypertension (Aware) among diagnosed patients of hypertension on examination by investigator was 86/132(65%). Of the 86 aware hypertensive subjects 76 (88%) were under treatment for hypertension.Of these 76 individuals, only 25 (33%) had blood pressure under control (Adequately treated) which represents 19% (25/132) of the total hypertensive group.
CONCLUSIONS:
The utility of Rule of Halves as applied for hypertension needs further investigation keeping the diverse sociodemography of India in mind.