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News from Ekantipur
KATHMANDU, SEP 29 – One fourth of the urban population inside Kathmandu Valley are at serious risk of hypertension, a research report released on Sunday revealed.
A survey conducted among 5,000 participants showed that 28 percent, most of them males, had hypertension. The findings also showed that 44 percent of the people had pre-hypertension which could exacerbate into hypertension. Similarly, the report states that 59 percent of the people had high cholesterol which is 55 percent among the people less than 40 years of age.
The study also found out that 19 percent of the participants aged less than 40 suffered from high-blood pressure.
The study led by Dr Om Murti Anil, cardiologist of Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center (MCVTC) of Institute of Medicine, was conducted from September 13 to September 23 at Heart Clinic in Maharajgunj. The 11-day health screening programme had assessed the cardiovascular risk factors. During the programme, ECG of all participants were taken and blood tests were conducted.
The Centre for Heart Attack Awareness, which initiated the study, said it screened 5,443 people altogether.
Dr Om Murti said many people lacked physical exercise and this has increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases. “People are aware of the disease but they seem reluctant to change their behaviour,” he said. Dr Khem Karki, member secretary of Nepal Health Research Council, said this study has been important as it depicted urban population and their cardiovascular status. He said these results do not represent the national context as the survey was centred among the population of Kathmandu valley.
Source : Ekantipur (Posted on: 2014-09-29)
