Prehypertension and Hypertension in Medical Students of Northern Border University in Arar, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Aim of the work: hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular disorder. Prehypertension in adolescents and young adults is a risk factor for developing hypertension in later years of life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate and risk factor associated with prehypertension and hypertension in the medical students of Northern Border University in Arar city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: this crosssectional study included 232 students. The study subjects were selected by systematic random sampling method. This study included 232 medical students (136 male and 96 female). The study period was from 1 March to 31 May 2017. Students were given a predesigned and pretested questionnaire to collect the relevant data. Results: Fifty (52.1%) of females and 58.8% of males were pre-hypertensive and 1.5% from males were hypertensive. Family history of hypertension was positive in 66.7% of hypertensive or prehypertensive students (P<0.05), 18.2% were obese (P<0.05), 9.1% of hypertensive or pre-hypertensive students were diabetic (P>0.05), 31.8% were smokers (P>0.05), 10.6% were drug addicts (P>0.05), 18.2% only performing muscular exercise (P>0.05), 62.1% consume >5g salt /day (P<0.05)and 40.9% of them spent 2-5 hours in front of TV, Computer or mobile (P>0.05). Conclusion: in medical students of the Northern Border University, 52.1% of females and 58.8% of males were pre-hypertensive and 1.5% of males were hypertensive. Risk factors included obesity, family history, sedentary life and excess salt intake. So health-care providers should recognize the increased risk of prehypertension and hypertension and should seek to identify and manage the modifiable risk factors in those students.

Pre-hypertension and Hypertension Among University Students in Bahrain: A Study of Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

“…The study found that 30.7% of the participants had pre-hypertension; this is similar to the prevalence of 27.1% in a university in Palestine [ 14 ] and 23.3% in Jordan [ 15 ]. However, the prevalence of pre-hypertension among undergraduate students was higher in some other countries, like 56% at one university in Saudi Arabia [ 16 ], 39% at a Sudanese university [ 17 ], and 39.5% in Kuwait [ 12 ], and a lower prevalence among other Iraqi students (17.2%) [ 18 ]. The prevalence of hypertension among the participants was 8%, which is similar to the study conducted on Moroccan students which revealed the prevalence of hypertension was 9.6% [ 19 ], and the study done by Baig et al [ 9 ] who reported 9.3% among medical students in Jeddah and 11.8% in college students from Kuwait [ 12 ], but lower than 16.7% and 26.5% from two studies done in Egypt [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Correlation of Body Measurements and Exercise With Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in Lahore

“…14 In a study conducted in medical students of Saudi Arabia, hypertension was detected in 1.5% of the male students but prehypertension was detected with much higher rates where 52.1% of females and 58.8% of males, in undergraduate medical school were prehypertensive. 15 Multiple factors play a key role in the development of hypertension. Findings of this study showed results where high blood pressure is associated with weight.…”

Prevalence of Prehypertension and Its Correlation with Body Mass Index in Undergraduate Students of Physiotherapy

“…They also reported no significance with age (p=0.231) and WHR (p=0.219). [15] The present study also evaluated the association of other risk factors with Prehypertension. It was found that history of smoking, family history of Hypertension contributes significantly towards the magnitude of Prehypertension.…”

“…[14] Amidst growing urbanization, sociodevelopmental and lifestyle changes have administered to physical inactivity, emphasize on technology and consumption of junk food and other modified dietary patterns characterized by increased consumption of diets rich in fat, sugar and calories which has led the young adults to suffer from obesity and Prehypertension. [15] Nowadays the young population, especially the college going students are not much into the physical activity which leads to a sedentary lifestyle, which is one of the major causes of Prehypertension, also various other factors like family history of Hypertension, addiction of smoking and alcohol, extra salt in meals contribute to it. There is a great need of detecting Prehypertension in young adults and to estimate the impact of it.…”