Prevalence of Prehypertension in Young Healthy Individuals and its Associated Risk Factors

Background: This study is aimed to measure the prevalence of prehypertension in young healthy individuals with its correlation to the parental history of hypertension and anthropometric measurements. Methods/Statistical analysis: Participants were the 100 students, 50 males and 50 females from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and were asked for the parental history of hypertension. Participants were examined for anthropometric parameters like height, Weight, BMI, waist hip ratio and blood pressure in right upper arm in sitting position. Students were labeled as prehypertensives according to the criteria of JNC 7 new classification of hypertension. Results: Among the 100 participants, 52% were prehypertensives. 39% males and 13% females were prehypertensives. 14% prehypertensive males while only 2% females were heaving family history of hypertension. Prehypertensive males with BMI of 25 or more were 11% and prehypertensives females were 2%. 28% prehypertensives males and 9% prehypertensive females had their waist-hip ratio equal or more than the Standard cut-off. The study shows that the prevalence of prehypertesion is quiet high, which is more in males as compared to females, with a positive relation of prehypertension and parental history of hypertension and various anthropometric indices, of this waist hip ratio being the most prominent one as compared to BMI. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest need of monitoring the anthropometry of obese children as well as children of hypertensive parents. Health care providers have an important role to play in educating families and children about approaches that are useful in preventing hypertension.