Prevalence of and factors associated with prehypertension and hypertension among Bangladeshi young adults: An analysis of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18

Background: Hypertension is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality worldwide. Emerging evidence shows that young adults are increasingly at risk of hypertension alongside the older population. Most of the previous studies reported the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among the older population aged above 35 years. Objective: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension with their correlates among young Bangladeshi adults aged between 18 and 34 years. Methods: This study used data of 5394 young adults aged between 18 and 34 years from the most recent round (2017-18) of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Prehypertension and hypertension were defined according to the Joint National Committee 7 cut-off points. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 33.4% and 9.7%, respectively. No difference was observed in the prevalence of hypertension among younger adults from rural and urban areas (9.7% vs. 9.6%). Hypertension was slightly more prevalent among males (10.6%) compared to females (9.2%). Relatively older age (25-30 years and 31-34 years), being male, and having a higher body mass index (i.e., overweight/ obese) were identified as the risk factors associated with prehypertension and hypertension after adjusting for all confounders in multivariate logistic regression models. Conclusions: One out of ten young Bangladeshi adults was hypertensive, while one out of three was prehypertensive. The findings of the present study warrant the need for early prevention, detection, and treatment of hypertension among young adults in Bangladesh.