NEW DELHI: Adults above 40 should be routinely screened for both hypertension and diabetes as the chances of the two occurring together rise sharply as one ages, according to an Indian hospital-based study published in the journal, Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews.The study, conducted by the department of clinical research and preventive health programme at Max Healthcare, analysed electronic health records of more than 56,000 adults who underwent preventive health check-ups between Jan 2021 and Dec 2024 across six Max hospitals in Delhi-NCR.It found that nearly 5% of adults had both hypertension and diabetes simultaneously, almost twice the prevalence expected if the two conditions occurred independently. The prevalence of the dual burden increased rapidly from around 40 years of age, continued to climb until about 58 years, and plateaued at nearly 17% by around 70, highlighting the need for early screening and intervention.Researchers observed a strong association between the two disorders. Individuals with diabetes were nearly four times more likely to have hypertension than those without it, while those with hypertension were around 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes than people with normal blood pressure.The researchers said it is among the first large hospital-based analyses in India to quantify how frequently hypertension and diabetes coexist compared with what would be expected by chance. “Hypertension and diabetes are known to share several common risk factors, but our analysis demonstrates the extent to which they occur together. These findings provide quantitative evidence supporting integrated screening strategies so that both conditions can be identified early and managed before serious complications develop,” said Dr Abhaya Indrayan, biostatistics consultant at Max Healthcare.By examining age- and sex-specific trends, the study identifies the stage of life at which the risk of having both diseases accelerates, providing data that could inform preventive health strategies.Dr Indrayan added that India’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases warrants a shift from disease-specific screening to integrated preventive care. “India is witnessing a steady rise in non-communicable diseases, and hypertension and diabetes are among the most significant contributors to this burden. Preventive healthcare must therefore move beyond screening for individual diseases in isolation. Strengthening preventive screening practices will be critical in reducing complications like cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease associated with these conditions,” the doctor said.
