Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India

Abstract Background Rural-to-urban migration is a key contributor to urbanization in India and has potential implications for hypertension risk. Amidst the rising elderly population, the inequal burden of hypertension between migrants and non-migrants remains largely underexplored. This study examin...

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Main Authors: Bittu Mandal, Kalandi Charan Pradhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22267-5
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author Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
author_facet Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
author_sort Bittu Mandal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Rural-to-urban migration is a key contributor to urbanization in India and has potential implications for hypertension risk. Amidst the rising elderly population, the inequal burden of hypertension between migrants and non-migrants remains largely underexplored. This study examines the association between rural-to-urban migration and hypertension onset, focusing on rural-born individuals who have migrated to urban areas compared to those who have remained lifelong residents of rural areas. Methods Data from 27,270 participants aged 45 and above from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India were analysed, including 18,855 non-migrant rural residents and 8,415 rural-to-urban migrants. The onset of hypertension was evaluated using bivariate statistics and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Approximately 20% of rural non-migrants and 38% of rural-to-urban migrants were hypertensive. The median age of hypertension onset was 57 years for non-migrants and 54 years for migrants. Overall, migrants had a 1.22-fold (95% CI: 1.11–1.34) higher risk of hypertension onset. Regionally, migrants in the Northern (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10–1.53), Eastern (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99–1.44), and Southern regions (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07–1.43) were at a significantly higher risk of hypertension onset than their non-migrant peers. Conclusion These findings suggest that rural-to-urban migration may contribute to the early onset of hypertension in India, with notable variations across regions.
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spelling doaj-art-a1a1f39403af4e7e9696d866de5d30962025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22267-5Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from IndiaBittu Mandal0Kalandi Charan Pradhan1School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology IndoreSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology IndoreAbstract Background Rural-to-urban migration is a key contributor to urbanization in India and has potential implications for hypertension risk. Amidst the rising elderly population, the inequal burden of hypertension between migrants and non-migrants remains largely underexplored. This study examines the association between rural-to-urban migration and hypertension onset, focusing on rural-born individuals who have migrated to urban areas compared to those who have remained lifelong residents of rural areas. Methods Data from 27,270 participants aged 45 and above from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India were analysed, including 18,855 non-migrant rural residents and 8,415 rural-to-urban migrants. The onset of hypertension was evaluated using bivariate statistics and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Approximately 20% of rural non-migrants and 38% of rural-to-urban migrants were hypertensive. The median age of hypertension onset was 57 years for non-migrants and 54 years for migrants. Overall, migrants had a 1.22-fold (95% CI: 1.11–1.34) higher risk of hypertension onset. Regionally, migrants in the Northern (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.10–1.53), Eastern (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99–1.44), and Southern regions (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07–1.43) were at a significantly higher risk of hypertension onset than their non-migrant peers. Conclusion These findings suggest that rural-to-urban migration may contribute to the early onset of hypertension in India, with notable variations across regions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22267-5HealthMigrationHypertensionNon-Communicable DiseasesOld ageGlobal south
spellingShingle Bittu Mandal
Kalandi Charan Pradhan
Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
BMC Public Health
Health
Migration
Hypertension
Non-Communicable Diseases
Old age
Global south
title Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
title_full Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
title_fullStr Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
title_full_unstemmed Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
title_short Association between rural-to-urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle-aged and older population: evidence from India
title_sort association between rural to urban migration and the onset of hypertension among middle aged and older population evidence from india
topic Health
Migration
Hypertension
Non-Communicable Diseases
Old age
Global south
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22267-5
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