Why high BP and diabetes may strike together after 40

Adults aged 40 and over should be routinely screened for both high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes, as the likelihood of these conditions occurring together significantly increases with age, according to a study published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. Conducted by the department of clinical research and preventive health at Max Healthcare, the study examined electronic health records of over 56,000 adults who underwent preventive check-ups at six Max hospitals in Delhi-NCR between January 2021 and December 2024.

The findings revealed that nearly 5% of adults had both hypertension and diabetes, a prevalence nearly double what would be expected if the two conditions occurred independently. The dual burden of these diseases rose sharply around age 40, continued to climb until around age 58, and plateaued at nearly 17% by age 70, underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention.

Researchers noted a strong association between the two disorders, with diabetes increasing the risk of hypertension by nearly fourfold and hypertension raising the risk of diabetes by around 2.5 times. This study is among the first large hospital-based analyses in India to quantify how frequently hypertension and diabetes coexist, providing evidence for integrated screening strategies to identify and manage both conditions early before they lead to serious complications.

Dr Abhaya Indrayan, a biostatistics consultant at Max Healthcare, emphasized the need for a shift towards integrated preventive care in India, where the burden of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, is rapidly growing.