Table 2. Demographic characteristics of normotensive, pre-hypertensive and hypertensive study participants (n = 1498). (Chi-squared test).

Variable		Normotension (n=318)	Pre-hypertension (n=670)	p*	Hypertension (n=510)	p**
Age (mean ± SD)		47 ± 8	49 ± 9	0.003	51 ± 10	<0.001
Age group	40 - 49	25	47	0.06	28	<0.001
	50 - 59	16	43		41
	60 - 69	14	42		45
	70+	12	36		52
Gender	Male	19	46	0.16	35	0.22
	Female	23	44		34
Type of residency	Urban	21	45	0.67	34	0.86
	Rural	22	44		34
Marital Status	Single	25	45	0.48	30	0.10
	Married	22	45		34
	Others	10	41		48

Values are expressed as percentage; SD, standard deviation; P* for comparison between pre-hypertensive and normotensive groups; P** for comparison between pre-hypertensive and hypertensive groups; p-value <0.05.