What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension and identify associated demographic and lifestyle risk factors among undergraduate medical students.

June 13, 2025CureusOpen Access

Pre-hypertension and Associated Risk Factors Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Chengalpattu District: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Why the study?

Pre-hypertension is a key risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular complications, and medical students face high stress and unhealthy lifestyles that may increase their risk.

Population

350 students from a medical college in Chengalpattu district

Design

Cross-sectional study

Authors

RSRehana Naz SyedChettinad Academy of Research and Education DRDinesh RajaChettinad Academy of Research and Education PMP. ManojMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

May support targeted stress and activity interventions in medical students; leaves open longitudinal confirmation of these associations.

Key Points

To determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension and identify associated demographic and lifestyle risk factors among undergraduate medical students.
Conducted a cross-sectional study of randomly selected undergraduate medical students (N=350) using a pretested, structured questionnaire.
Screening identified pre-hypertension in 28.0% of participants, 67.7% were normotensive, and 4.3% had stage 1 hypertension.
Significant independent risk factors for pre-hypertension included academic stress (AOR = 3.822), smoking (AOR = 2.755), physical inactivity (AOR = 2.738), family history of hypertension (AOR = 2.186), final-year academic standing (AOR = 2.107), poor sleep quality (AOR = 1.983), and age older than 22 years (AOR = 1.833).

Structured PICO

Population

350 undergraduate medical students (first to final year MBBS, >18 years of age) from two colleges in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India. Excluded those with a known history of hypertension under medication.

Outcome

Prevalence of pre-hypertension and its associated risk factors

A high prevalence of pre-hypertension (28%) exists among medical students in South India, strongly driven by modifiable risk factors like stress, smoking, physical inactivity, and poor sleep.

Limitations

Inability to generalize the findings to the entire young adult population of the Chengalpattu district
Social desirability bias
Dietary habits were not studied
Possibility of over-diagnosis (white coat hypertension) due to single-day measurement

Cite This Study

Syed et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a814ecb0914b5fb8de3f5bd https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.85896

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Pre-hypertension and Associated Risk Factors Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Chengalpattu District: A Cross-Sectional Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Pre-hypertension and Associated Risk Factors Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Chengalpattu District: A Cross-Sectional Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider