New Delhi: A study of electronic health records of more than 56,000 adults in Delhi-NCR found that nearly 5 per cent of adults had both hypertension and diabetes simultaneously, almost twice the prevalence expected if the two conditions occurred independently.
The health records, covering the period from January 2021 to 2024, were accessed from select Max Healthcare Network hospitals in Delhi-NCR, including Max Hospital, Saket; BLK-Max Hospital; Max Hospital, Vaishali; Max Multi Speciality Centre, Panchsheel Park; Max Hospital, Noida; and Max Hospital, Dwarka.
According to the findings published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, the coexistence of the two diseases increased rapidly from around the age of 40, continued to rise until approximately 58 years of age, and gradually plateaued at nearly 17 per cent by around 70 years.
Researchers also found that individuals with diabetes were nearly four times more likely to have hypertension than those without diabetes, while people with hypertension were approximately 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes compared with those without hypertension.
Dr Abhaya Indrayan, Biostatistics Consultant, Max Healthcare, said, “India is witnessing a steady rise in non-communicable diseases, and hypertension and diabetes are among the most significant contributors to this burden. Preventive healthcare must therefore move beyond screening for individual diseases in isolation.
“This study reinforces the value of comprehensive health assessments, particularly for adults above 40 years of age, where simultaneous screening for blood pressure and blood sugar can facilitate earlier diagnosis, timely intervention and better long-term health outcomes. Strengthening preventive screening practices will be critical in reducing complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease associated with these conditions,” Dr Indrayan added.
