1 in 20 Delhi-NCR adults have both high blood sugar and blood pressure

Nearly 1 in 20 adults in the Delhi-NCR region have both diabetes and high blood pressure, a study of over 56,000 health records shows. This co-occurrence is roughly twice as common as would be expected if the two conditions occurred independently. The risk of having both conditions sharply increases after age 40, continues rising until around age 58, then levels off by age 70.

People with diabetes are nearly four times more likely to develop hypertension than those without diabetes, while those with hypertension are about 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes. Dr Rommel Tickoo, a senior internal medicine physician at Max Healthcare, says this pattern is not unique to Delhi but is an "Asian, South Asian, nation phenomenon" driven by genetic and lifestyle factors.

He emphasizes that both diseases need to be treated aggressively with proper medication and lifestyle changes, as untreated diabetes and hypertension can lead to multiple organ damage, including fatty liver, high blood pressure, heart problems, and kidney disease. The study recommends integrating blood sugar and blood pressure screenings to detect and treat these conditions earlier, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disease.