The Study Of Hypertension And Prehypertension On University Students

BackgroundHypertension is the most common chronic illness in human beings. Also, it is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease and mortality.There are currently about one billion hypertension patients in the world, which leads to 7.1 million patients dying of cardiovascular disease (CVD) every year. The prevalence rate of hypertension is still growing in China. Hypertension patients in China are estimated to reach 0.2 billion. For a long time, prevention and treatment of hypertension has been focused on senile and middle age group instead of youth group while little attention has been given to university students.ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence and the risk factors behind hypertension and prehypertension in university students and to test their awareness and related knowledge of the above mentioned conditions, also to analysis the development tendency of hypertension on university students and to provide them healthy life style and treatment individually, further more to implement educational policies to overcome these growing problems.Subjects and Methods1. Blood pressure was tested on 8520 students (aged 17 to 23)of Shandong Normal University by large-scale screening and the results were analyzed and compared with the data of five year ago.2. Stratified random and cluster sampling method was used and by physical examination and questionnaire questioning,2607 university students of mixed gender were tested.The age of the test subjects ranged from 18 to 21. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood pressure were recorded.3.165 hypertension patients and 170 prehypertension samples were tested fasting blood glucose (FBG), TC (total cholesterol), TG (triglycerides), HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).4. The data from physical examination, laboratory examination and questionnaire investigation were analyzed comprehensively to find the developing traits of hypertension and prehypertension in university students.Results1. The total prevalence rate of hypertension on 8520 university students (aged 17 to 23 years old) was 4.82% and the total prevalence rate of prehypertension was 24.11%, both of which were higher than the rates of five years ago(P<0.01).2. The prevalence of hypertension in the male test subjects was 9.89%, and with 30.31% showing prehypertension. The female test subjects showing 1.18% hypertension and 17.11% with prehypertension. The rate of hypertension and prehypertension in male subjects was much higher than in females (P<0.01).3. The major risk factors of hypertension found in the test subjects were as follows:age, gender, genetic factors, obesity (especially abdomen obesity), dyslipidemia, smoking, heavy drinking, lack of physical exercise, lack of sleep and adverse psychological effets etc. according the results of x2 test. Age, gender, family history, overweight or obesity and high LDL-C were correlated positively with hypertension; heavy drinking and physical exercise were correlated negatively with hypertension according the results of Logistics regression analysis.4. Before the investigation,78.4% of the hypertension patients of the university students had never been told they had high blood pressure.After testing, the knowledge of the test subjects about hypertension and its related risk factors ranged from 30.03% to 70.08%. Their responds to the questions regarding prehypertension was only 2.03%.Discussion1. The prevalence rate of hypertension on university students has increased during the last five years.With better hypertension control, preventive measures along with health education for university students at the earliest opportunity, they should be able to have enough knowledge about hypertension and its risk factors to keep themselves away from the harmful effects in the future.Prevention and treatment of hypertension should ideally be strengthened. Advanced hypertension education theories in the world must be adopted to put prevention first.2. There are risk factors, such as overweight, obesity, lack of physical exercise, stress, drink and smoking in university students. Leading a healthy lifestyle is an important part of hypertension education.3. Individual guide of healthy lifestyle and treatment must be designed for hypertension patients and high risk group in university students.4. Physical examination files on university students should be built and different group should be given different health education measures to normal students, high risk group and hypertension patients.Conclusion1. The prevalence rate of hypertension and prehypertension on Shandong Normal University students has increased during the last five years.2. The risk factors of hypertension on university students are gender, age, family history, overweight or obesity, high LDL-C according the results of statistical analysis. 3. The correct answer rate to hypertension knowledge and awareness was low and hypertension education work on university students must be strengthened urgently.