Background: Ageing is a biological process and not a disease or curse, and during the biological process significant changes occur in human body. However ageing is inevitable, irreversible and progressive. Developing countries, like India, are likely to face an enormous burden of NCDs in future and the condition like hypertension is one of the most important treatable causes of mortality and morbidity amongst the elderly population.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of Hypertension amongst the Geriatric Population in a rural area of Katihar and find out the risk factors of Hypertension amongst the geriatric population in that particular area.

Material & Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was conducted during January 2017 to December 2017 at Hajipur village under Hajipur RHTC (which is the rural field practice area under Department of Community Medicine, Katihar Medical College). The criteria of diagnosis of hypertension and method of blood pressure measurement for each participant were followed as per JNC - 7 recommendations.

Results: The prevalence of hypertension among the study subjects (262) was found 47.7% Prevalence of hypertension was high among age group ≥80 years and statistically significant association was observed between the gender& type of family and prevalence of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among widow 64.8%, illiterate 53.3%, upper middle socioeconomic class (60%) and non-vegetarian (47.8%).

Conclusion: There is need of awareness through Behavior change communication or other strategies about hypertension, particularly focusing on prevention by recognition of important risk factors and lifestyle modification.

Keywords: Prevalence, Hypertension, Geriatric, Risk factors, Awareness, Lifestyle modification.

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Abdur Rahman Al Adil

Junior Resident III, Department of Community Medicine, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar