Abstract: PUB422
Prehypertension and Hypertension among University Students in Bahrain: Study of Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors
Session Information
Category: Hypertension and CVD
- 1602 Hypertension and CVD: Clinical
Author
- El Agroudy, Amgad E., Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
Background
In the last twenty years, hypertension has become more common among younger age groups. Based on a global meta-analysis, the combined prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension were 4.0% and 9.7%, respectively. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among university students and their associated risk factors.
Methods
Four hundred and eleven students aged between 18 and 25 (196 males and 215 females) were randomly selected to participate from College of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS) and the College of Business Administration. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire, which gathered information about lifestyle habits. Trained students measured the participant's blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) according to standardized settings. All risk factors were studied according to the studying field and their gender.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 16.4±0.9 years. Of the total participants, 61.3% (n= 252) were normotensive, 30.7% (n= 126) were pre-hypertensive, and 8% (n= 33) were hypertensive. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension was higher in male students, 13.8% (n=27) and 44.9% (n= 88), compared to female students, 2.8% (n=6) and 17.7% (n=38), respectively. The results of the univariate analysis showed an association of hypertension with the field of study, gender, age, BMI, exercise frequency, frequency of eating junk food, and family history of hypertension (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found a significant association between hypertension and pre-hypertension with gender, the field of study, and BMI.
Conclusion
The findings of the study revealed that hypertension and prehypertension are common among university students in Bahrain. The risk factors for these conditions include studying medicine, being male and being obese.