Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity and Hypertension among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Attending a Primary Health-Care Facility: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus frequently coexists with excess adiposity and hypertension, creating a clustered cardiometabolic burden that is especially relevant to primary health care in India.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a primary health-care facility, and to examine the distribution of hypertension across body mass index categories.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study included 108 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Anthropometric, blood pressure, glycaemic and treatment-related variables were analysed. Body mass index was classified using Asian Indian cut-offs. Descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Categorical associations were examined using Pearson chi-square tests after checking expected cell frequencies.

Results: The mean age was 50.94 ± 8.67 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 7.03 ± 4.42 years. Overweight was present in 29 (26.9%) participants and obesity in 55 (50.9%), giving a combined overweight/obesity prevalence of 77.8% (95% CI 69.1-84.6). Hypertension was recorded in 51 (47.2%; 95% CI 38.1-56.6). Hypertension differed significantly across BMI categories (Pearson χ²=85.89, df=2, p<0.001); all expected cell counts in the 2 × 3 contingency table exceeded 5. Hypertension prevalence was similar in rural and urban participants (p=0.881).

Conclusion: Excess body weight and hypertension were common among adults with type 2 diabetes attending the primary health-care facility. The concentration of hypertension among participants with obesity reinforces the value of integrated weight, blood pressure and glycaemic risk assessment during routine diabetes care.