Prevalence of Hypertension and Prehypertension among Young Adult Students of Midnapore Town, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India

Background: Hypertension is one of the most prevalent public health concerns and also one of the prominent factors in affecting the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), coronary heart diseases (CHDs). It has been termed as “Silent Killer’. About 46.0% of adults worldwide with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition. Methods: The present study aimed at the investigation on the anthropometric, derived variables and blood pressure variables. It also determined the correlation between anthropometric, derived variables and blood pressure variables. It estimated the prevalence rate of hypertension and prehypertension among the young adult students of Midnapore Town, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 young adult male students aged between 18 to 28 years. Height (HT), Weight (WT), Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), Hip circumference (HC), Waist circumference (WC), Biceps skinfold (BSF), Triceps skinfold (TSF), Subscapular skinfold (SSF) and Suprailliac skinfold (SISF), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and pulse rate measurement were taken using standard procedure. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 10.9% among the studied participants and 44.3% was the prehypertension prevalence rate. A significant correlation (p<0.05) was found between blood pressure variables and different anthropometric and derived variables. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a very strong prevalence of prehypertension and HTN among the young adult students of Midnapore town. Results of such kind of researches can be helpful in the formulation of appropriate awareness programmes in the universities and colleges.