Rural health dynamics: Exploring the prevalence of prediabetes and prehypertension among the rural population of Puducherry district.

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 41 million lives annually. Notably, type 2 diabetes not only presents well-known complications but also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease silently. Furthermore, concerningly high rates of undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension emphasize the need for improved diagnostic capabilities and enhanced awareness. The growing prevalence of prediabetes, a precursor to diabetes, further underscores the urgency for proactive action. Therefore, addressing the silent killers through early detection and comprehensive management strategies is crucial to combat this global health crisis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of prediabetes and prehypertension and the factors associated with them among the rural population of Puducherry district.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 adults more than 30 years of age residing in rural field practice areas of a private medical college in the Puducherry district over 8 months (January 2023 to August 2023). Multistage sampling was employed. After obtaining written informed consent, data collection included a pretested questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference) and blood pressure measurements were recorded; on subsequent days, fasting capillary blood sugar levels were checked. The data were analyzed using SPSS v21.

Results: On categorization based on the Indian Diabetes Risk Score, the results showed that 14.4% of participants were high-risk for diabetes, with 74% and 11.5% falling into medium- and low-risk categories, respectively. Also, the prevalence of hypertension was 31.3%, with an additional 13% prehypertensive and 55.8% normotensive. Notably, 64.6% of hypertensive individuals had Stage I and 35.4% had Stage II. Family history, self-reported diet, physical activity, and body mass index were significantly associated with prediabetes/diabetes ( value < 0.05). In addition to this, there has been a significant association between the risk of developing diabetes and systolic blood pressure ( value = 0.011).

Conclusion: Family history emerged as a significant risk factor for both diabetes and hypertension, highlighting the importance of genetic predisposition and the potential benefit of targeted family-based interventions. These findings raise concerns regarding the high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension risk factors within this population.