Lipid abnormalities in hypertensive urban population of dibrugarh district of upper assam.

AIMS: This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of hypertension among an urban population of Dibrugarh district in Upper Assam and to study the profile of lipid abnormalities in the hypertensives.

METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted for a period of one year - from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004, and covered 1005 persons selected from a population of approximately 200,000 urban dwellers of Dibrugarh town in Upper Assam. Hypertension was defined on the basis of the Joint National Committee VII criteria and dyslipidemia on the basis of the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. The fasting lipid profile was determined for hypertensives as well as controls who did not have hypertension.

RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in the selected population was found to be 27.9%, of which 54% of those with hypertension also had dyslipidemia. The maximum incidence of hypertension as well as dyslipidemia was observed in the age group of 50-59 years. Of the hypertensives, 34.4% had an elevated level of total cholesterol (>/= 200 mg%), 25.2% had elevated triglycerides (>/= 200 mg%), 33.1% had elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (>/= 130 mg%), and 22.5% had a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (< 40 mg%).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension in this population was higher than the national average of 23%. Dyslipidemia was present in 54% of the hypertensives. Most hypertensives were smokers or alcoholics, and had a higher body mass index than the normotensives and a positive family history. These findings suggest the possibility that this population would be relatively more vulnerable to coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.