A Cross-Sectional Study of Factors Associated with Prehypertension among Final Year Medical Students of University of Kisangani

Introduction : Prehypertension is a major health problem that exposes subjects to increase their risk of cardiovascular disease regardless of progression to overt hypertension. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of prehypertension and to identify its associated factors among final year medical students of University of Kisangani.

Methods : A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Kisangani University Clinics over a period ranging from December 2022 to March 2023 and involved 130 final year medical students. Parameters of interest included sociodemographic data, clinical and anthropometric data, behavioral data, and environmental data. Factors associated with prehypertension were identified using logistic regression.

Results: Prevalence of prehypertension 40% among final year medical students. Factors associated with prehypertension were age varying between 30 and 39 years (p<0,05), family history of high blood pressure (p<0,05), family history of diabetes mellitus (p<0,05), moderate anxiety (p<0,05), coffee consumption (p<0,05), and irregular physical activity (p<0,05).

Conclusion : This study shows that the prevalence of prehypertension among final year medical students of University of Kisangani was high. Factors associated with prehypertension were identified. Multicenter studies with a larger sample size should be conducted to obtain more accurate results in the identification of factors associated with prehypertznsion so that early intervention can be implemented nationwide.