Research on presence of chosen risk factors for hypertension in medical students

Abstract

Hypertension represents one of the most significant preventable causes of death worldwide, and accordingly the target group for its prevention and early detection primarily refers to young population. Assessment of prevalence of selected risk factors for the development of hypertension among students, and determination of the existence of differences between genders, defined age groups and included faculties. A cross-sectional study was carried out during 2013., at Faculties of Medical Sciences, University of Belgrade. Respondents completed an questionnaire specially designed for the purpose of this study. Categorical data were analyzed using statistical chi-square test of independence. The study included 600 respondents, mainly female (61.2%), with the mean age of 53.1 ± 17.4 years. More than third of the participants (38,6%) reported the genetic predisposition to development of hypertension. Recorded modifiable risk factors were overweight (22,33%), regular extra salt intake (86,3%) and smoking (32,8%). The results of the study indicate presence of reversible risk factors in the observed population. Designing educational programs on chronic diseases during graduate studies is necessary to keep hypertension from developing at older age and mitigate the number of existing risk factors development.

Keywords

• hypertension risk factors
• students
• Social pharmacy
• public health