Aftab Anjum, Naheed Humayun Sheikh, Seema Daud.
Hypertension and its socio-economic determinants among Gypsy population aged 30 years and above.
J Allama Iqbal Med Coll Jan ;5(1):7-12.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the frequency and determinants of hypertension among Gypsy population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Babu Sabu, near motorway, District Lahore. PATIENTS & METHODS: A Random Sampling technique was employed to recruit 180 gypsies aged over 30 years, who were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire to collect information on their socio-demographic background. Their blood pressure and BMI were recorded. Descriptive statistics was used for describing variables. RESULTS: The age range of the respondents was 30-85 years, 107 (59.5%) were self- employed, 164 were married (91%), 124 (69%) were living in nuclear family system, 160 (89%) were illiterate, 144 (80%) had a monthly family income of ¡Ü Rs 1500. Using the cut off value of systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg and / or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg, hypertension was diagnosed in 22 respondents (10 males and 12 females). The overall prevalence of hypertension in the present study was around 12% (11% in males and 14% in females). Among the respondents, 47 (26%) had BMI ¡Ý 26, and out of these 42% were hypertensive (P= <0.00). Around 140 respondents (78%) were smokers but out of them only 9% were hypertensive. Substance abuse was found in 26 respondents (14%) and among them 50% were hypertensive. Forty six respondents (26%) were engaged in begging, and out of them 28% had hypertension (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The gypsy community had low prevalence of hypertension but had high frequency of smoking. The obese and beggars among this community were more prone to hypertension.

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