Nwoke Obinna C, Nubila Nkoyo I, Ekowo Onyekachi E, Nwoke Nwabunwanne C, Okafor Edwin N, Anakwue Raphael C
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Acute Medicine Department, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, United Kingdom.
Niger Med J. 2024 Jun 20;65(3):241-254. doi: 10.60787/nmj-v65i3-404. eCollection 2024 May-Jun.
Emerging epidemiological data suggest that Hypertension (HTN) has become a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. HTN in young adults is a problem lacking relevant attention because it is still erroneously considered a disease of the old. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in undergraduate medical students at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted between March and April 2021. This study recruited 279 consenting medical students (136 males and 143 females) aged 18-35 years. They were administered with a structured questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic information and risk factors for hypertension were collected. Blood pressure, waist circumference, weight, height, and body mass index were measured using standard methods. All data collected were carried out following the Institutional ethical guidelines and that of the Helsinki as revised in 2000. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25, and statistical tools employed include descriptive statistics and Chi tests. Results were recorded as mean standard deviation, and statistical significance was taken at p<0.05.
This present study has shown a prevalence rate of 19.93% for hypertension. Isolated diastolic hypertension constituted a greater burden with a prevalence of 13.65% than systolic Hypertension (0.74%) and systolic-diastolic Hypertension 5.4%. The prevalence of prehypertension was 48.7%, with a higher incidence observed in females (25.8%), individuals aged 21-25 years (26.4), and those with normal BMI (35.1%). A significant association was observed between the stage of hypertension and gender (p = 0.005), and age category (p = 0.037). Of the examined cohort, 7.75% were underweight, 16.5% overweight, and 2.2% obese. Notably, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, weight, as well as waist circumference showed significant (p = 0.01, p = 0.007, p =0.01 and p<0.0001 respectively) increases concomitant with advancing age.
There is an increased prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young adults. This calls for a comprehensive national screening, public enlightenment, and targeted prevention programs that foster healthy lifestyle behaviours, physical activity, and healthy eating among students.
新出现的流行病学数据表明，高血压（HTN）已成为撒哈拉以南非洲地区一项重大的公共卫生挑战。青年成年人中的高血压问题缺乏相关关注，因为它仍被错误地认为是一种老年疾病。本研究旨在确定尼日利亚埃努古州埃努古校区尼日利亚大学本科医学生中高血压的患病率及其相关危险因素。
这是一项于2021年3月至4月进行的横断面研究。本研究招募了279名年龄在18 - 35岁之间、同意参与的医学生（136名男性和143名女性）。他们接受了一份结构化问卷的调查。收集了关于社会人口学信息和高血压危险因素的数据。使用标准方法测量血压、腰围、体重、身高和体重指数。所有收集的数据均按照机构伦理准则以及2000年修订的赫尔辛基准则进行。数据使用IBM社会科学统计软件包第25版进行分析，所采用的统计工具包括描述性统计和卡方检验。结果记录为均值标准差，统计学显著性以p<0.05为准。
本研究显示高血压患病率为19.93%。单纯舒张期高血压构成的负担更大，患病率为13.65%，高于收缩期高血压（0.74%）和收缩 - 舒张期高血压（5.4%）。高血压前期的患病率为48.7%，在女性（25.8%）、年龄在21 - 25岁之间的个体（26.4%）以及体重指数正常的个体（35.1%）中观察到更高的发病率。在高血压阶段与性别（p = 0.005）和年龄类别（p = 0.037）之间观察到显著关联。在所检查的队列中，7.75%体重过轻，16.5%超重，2.2%肥胖。值得注意的是，收缩压和舒张压、体重以及腰围随着年龄增长均呈现显著（分别为p = 0.01、p = 0.007、p = 0.01和p<0.0001）增加。
青年成年人中高血压前期和高血压的患病率有所上升。这需要开展全面的全国性筛查、公众宣传以及有针对性的预防项目，以促进学生养成健康的生活方式、进行体育活动和健康饮食。
