Linkages between Raised Blood Pressure Risk and Occupation of Men of Age Group 25-54 Years: Evidence from India

Chander Sekhar, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Apurba Shil , Ben Gurion University of the Negev

The study aims to examine the linkages between occupation and raised blood pressure risk among men of age 25-54 years in the country. The study is based on the recent round of National Family and Health Survey (NFHS-4), India, 2015-16. Age-standardized prevalence rate (PR) was computed by taking Census 2011 as the reference population. Ordered logistic regression models were fitted for the total population and by stratifying the occupation groups. In India, more than 5 among 100 men are suffering from moderately and severely elevated blood pressure (Hypertension). In addition, a considerable occupation wise inequality has been found in the raised blood pressure level. Men belonging to professional-managerial-technical (PR=6.42 per 100 population) and sales (PR=6.10 per 100 population) occupational groups are facing a much higher burden of raised blood pressure morbidity conditions. By adjusting for control variables in all the stratified ordered logistic models, we found that among these occupational groups, men those who are belonging to higher levels of wealth quantile, age groups, education and those who are consuming alcohol and tobacco are showing a positive association on raised blood pressure risk. Considering the huge morbidity burden of raised blood pressure in the country, urgent attention to the less focused occupational groups like unemployed, professional-technical-managerial-clerical and sales is necessary with special emphasis is needed for not just to older males but middle-aged adults are also vulnerable in the country.

See extended abstract

 Presented in Session P2. Poster Session Ageing, Health and Mortality