The prevalence and risk factors of pre-hypertension and hypertension among clinical students at the university of Ibadan, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease in Africa, with a 19.3% prevalence in Nigeria. Its incidence, along with prehypertension, is rising among young adults, including undergraduate clinical students, due to risk factors like stress, poor sleep, unhealthy eating, inactivity, and substance use. However, data on prehypertension among young adults in Africa, including Nigeria, is limited. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension among clinical undergraduate students and examine the relationship between risk factors and these conditions. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of clinical students in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. These are students in the Clinical Science department who had crossed from the pre-clinical arm into the clinical arm of their training. They are Physiotherapy and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences students in 400-500 level, as well as Dentistry and Medicine and Surgery students in 300-600 level. 346 participants were selected from the study population through a random probability sampling technique, and data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Participants' blood pressure, weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics and chi-square test used to determine relationships between sociodemographic factors and hypertension/pre-hypertension. Stress was self-reported. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 346 participants, 57% were male, while 43% female. The mean age was 23.9 ± 0.2 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 8%, and that of prehypertension was significantly higher at 33%. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in males than in females. Approximately 6 out of every 50 male students were hypertensive. Hypertension was found to be associated with gender, level of study and marital status. 77% reported a moderate-to-high perceived stress levels, which could be contributing to developing hypertension. CONCLUSION: This study found a high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among clinical students, with smoking, poor sleep, and perceived stress as common risk factors. Most affected students were unaware of their condition and received no treatment. The findings underscore the need for institutions to implement cost-effective hypertension awareness and screening programs for undergraduate clinical students, emphasizing early identification, lifestyle modification, and appropriate treatment to reduce future cardiovascular risks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number not applicable.