Hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors are increasingly being reported among indigenous populations in Northeast India, according to recent academic reviews that point to changing lifestyles, nutrition patterns, and limited health awareness as contributing factors.
A 2026 review published in the Journal of Human Hypertension has highlighted a significant prevalence of hypertension among several indigenous populations in Northeast India, pointing to growing cardiovascular health concerns in the region.
The review, authored by S. Ghosh, examined findings from 31 research articles sourced from PubMed, NCBI, and Google Scholar. The studies covered 24 indigenous populations across all eight northeastern states, including North Bengal, involving adult participants of both sexes.
According to the review, hypertension remains a major health concern in low- and middle-income regions where awareness levels and access to healthcare are often limited, resulting in poor blood pressure control.
Among the populations studied, the Mizo group showed a relatively high prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension, with 57 per cent of males and 43 per cent of females affected.
The Ao Naga population also showed significant levels, with 45 per cent of males and 41 per cent of females reported to have hypertension.
In the Angami Naga population, a particularly high rate of isolated diastolic hypertension was observed, affecting 67 per cent of rural participants and 68 per cent of urban participants.
However, the review also noted that obesity levels among the Angami Naga remained relatively lower, with 14 per cent in rural areas and 20 per cent in urban areas classified as obese based on BMI.
Across most populations studied, males were found to be more vulnerable to cardiovascular risk factors compared to females.
The review suggests that these trends should be understood in the context of broader lifestyle changes, including shifts in diet, physical activity, and long-term nutritional transitions among indigenous communities.
In an earlier 2022 study focusing specifically on the Angami Naga population, researchers Viserano Peseyie and Sudipt Ghosh also observed a high prevalence of hypertension, particularly among males, and linked it to changing lifestyles.
The study noted that reduced physical activity and shifts from traditional subsistence lifestyles to more sedentary patterns may have contributed to rising non-communicable disease risks.
It further suggested that populations traditionally associated with physically active livelihoods may now be experiencing higher susceptibility to conditions such as hypertension due to lifestyle and dietary changes.