Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional, community-based survey was to investigate the prevalence of hypertension isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), Isolated diastolic hypertension(IDH) and pre hypertension according to socio demographic features among the members of Santal Tribal Community of the district Purulia, West Bengal, India, in individuals aged 20 to 70 years. Methods: A door to door survey work was conducted by the authors. Detailed information was collected from participants who were interviewed using a systematic random sampling method and a pretested structured questionnaires. Standard instruments were used to obtain data on weight, height and blood pressure. Data were analyzed using standard statistical method. Results: The prevalence of hypertension (Systolic Diastolic Hypertension) according to different risk factors in the study population (N=519) is presented in Table 1. The overall crude prevalence of hypertension ( BP>= 140/90 mmHg, based on the VII report of American JNC,2003 and WHO criteria for 18 years old or above) is 15.41%. The pre-hypertensive (BP =120 -139 / 80 – 89 mmHg) condition is about 32.76%. Isolated Systolic hypertensive (BP>= 140/ <90 mmHg) and Isolated Diastolic Hypertensive (BP <140 / >=90 mmHg) rates are 13.87% and 3.85% respectively. 34.10% of the total study population is known to have normotensive pressure level (Table 1 and Fig 1). The additional dietary salt intake is defined as those individuals who take extra salt per meal excluding the previously added salt to meal during preparation. The prevalence of hypertension is higher in additional dietary salt consumers as compared to those not taking extra salt. The prevalence of hypertension is 67.01% in the salt intake group of >11 gm/day than the <7 gm/day (65.48%) salt consuming group (Table 1, Fig 5). BMI and WHR were significantly higher in the hypertensive group compared to the non-hypertensive group. Conclusion: The results of this investigation clearly indicate that there was a significant role of dietary salt in the development of hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension; Schedule tribe community; Tribal community; Purulia; Cardiovascular diseases; Systolic and diastolic blood pressure; Anthropometric measurement.