Key result
Among older adolescents in eastern Nepal, the overall prevalence of prehypertension was 20.8%, and obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of prehypertension (AOR 2.32).
Why the study?
Adolescent prehypertension strongly predicts adult hypertension and is targeted for cardiovascular risk reduction, but the burden and predictors among adolescents needed assessment.
Cross-Sectional (n=806)
Multistage stratified proportionate random sampling
Yes
Odds Ratio: 2.32 (95% CI 1.22–4.43)
Absolute Event Rate: 42.2% vs 21.2%
p-value: p=0.011
A significant proportion (20.8%) of older adolescents in eastern Nepal have prehypertension, which is strongly associated with modifiable risk factors such as obesity and eating out.
May support obesity-focused prevention in Nepali adolescents; leaves open prospective confirmation and generalizability.
Prehypertension is a state of transition between normal blood pressure and hypertension. Adolescent prehypertension is a strong predictor of hypertension in adults and is now considered for cardiovascular intervention or risk reduction. This study was conducted among adolescents to assess the burden of pre-hypertension and its predictors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among grade 11 and 12 students in three districts in eastern Nepal namely Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. Sampling was done using a multistage stratified proportionate random method. A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise approach to the non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) instrument was used as a study tool after modification and pre-testing in addition to the anthropometric and blood pressure measurements by the investigators. The prevalence of prehypertension was assessed along with the identification of its predictors through multivariable binary logistic regression modelling. A total of 806 participants aged 15 to 19 years, with 57.1% female, participated in the study. Prehypertension was found in 20.8% (24.6% in males and 18.0% in females) of the participants, while 7.1% of them were hypertensive (9.2% males and 5.4% females). Obesity and central obesity were seen among 6.3% and 17.7% of the respondents respectively. Age, sex, ethnicity and obesity were found to be significantly associated with prehypertension. A significant proportion of prehypertension was seen among the adolescent population along with a notable presence of risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and eating out. This warrants careful consideration and identification of relevant strategies to reduce the burden of prehypertension via school-based interventions to reduce the modifiable risk factors.
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Thapa et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Prehypertension (n=806). Obesity vs. Non-obese was evaluated on Prehypertension (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.22-4.43, p=0.011). Among older adolescents in eastern Nepal, the overall prevalence of prehypertension was 20.8%, and obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of prehypertension (AOR 2.32).
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