Prevalence of Addiction and Hypertension Among Elderly Women in Urban Slum Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Elderly women residing in urban slums represent a highly vulnerable population due to the combined effects of aging, poverty, and limited access to healthcare. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence of addiction (primarily tobacco and alcohol use) and hypertension among elderly women in slum settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2000 and 2024. A total of 18-25 eligible studies were included, encompassing over 10,000 elderly women aged 60 years and above. The pooled prevalence of hypertension ranged between 40% and 60% across studies, with some slum-based studies reporting rates as high as 57.5% among women. Awareness and control of hypertension were found to be low, with less than one-third of affected individuals aware of their condition. Addiction-related behaviors, particularly tobacco use (smoking and smokeless), were prevalent due to stress, social isolation, and low health literacy. Mental health conditions such as depression (31-48%) were strongly associated with substance use and poor cardiovascular outcomes. The findings indicate a significant dual burden of addiction and hypertension among elderly slum-dwelling women, driven by socio-economic deprivation and limited healthcare access. Targeted public health interventions focusing on early screening, addiction control, and gender-sensitive healthcare delivery are urgently needed to improve health outcomes in this population.

Keywords: Elderly Women, Urban Slums, Hypertension, Addiction, Tobacco Use, Alcohol Use, Meta-analysis, Public Health, India