COMPARISON OF ANTHROPOMETRY, BODY COMPOSITION AND KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE BETWEEN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE ADULTS OF ASIAN INDIANS ORIGIN: A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Milon Das and Arnab Ghosh*
ABSTRACT
There is little doubt on the fact that poor knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) is one of the key factors for high prevalence of hypertension and related cardiovascular complications. However, there is a paucity of data on KAP in hypertension both in India and abroad. The present work was aimed to investigate awareness and activity level through KAP model between normotensive and hypertensive individuals. A total of 461 participants including 187 men and 274 women from Kolkata and suburb took part in this study. All participants divided into three age groups: Group I (30 – 44 years), Group II (45 – 59 years) and Group III (60+ years). Each age group was further classified into Normotensive (NT) and Hypertensive (HT) using standard cut-offs. All anthropometric measurements were collected using standard techniques. Information on socio-economic characteristics as well as respondents’ awareness and activity was recorded in a pre-designed close ended schedule. Left arm systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure was taken from participants. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to compare NT vs. HT for anthropometric variables, body composition measures and blood pressure. ANOVA revealed significant differences for BMI, MWC, FM, FMI, PBF, SBP, DBP, MAP and VFL between HT and NT in Group II only. It was further observed that KAP for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors such as intake of extra salt, alcohol consumption etc., were almost non comparable in the study population.
Keywords: KAP, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, rural-urban, Asian Indians.
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