Prevalence of Prehypertension among the Medical Students and its Correlation with Body Mass Index

Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic renal diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and many others. The root cause of hypertension may present since childhood. Obesity itself is a risk factor for CVD such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and many other diseases. Early diagnosis of prehypertension can help to prevent a development of hypertension and other CVDs by adopting preventive measures such as lifestyle modification, yoga, and meditation. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to measure the prevalence of prehypertension among the medical students of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam and also to find any correlation between body mass index (BMI) and prehypertension. So that preventive measures can be adopted by medical students to prevent the development of hypertension and other CVDs related to hypertension. Materials and Methods: A total of 136 medical students were selected randomly for this study. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Height and weight were measured using standard instruments. Results: Out of 136 students, 62 were male and 74 were female. Overall, the prevalence of prehypertension was 68.38% which is again more in males (35.29%) than females (33.09%). We have also found a strong correlation between BMI and BP. Conclusion: The prevalence of prehypertension among the medical students of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital is 68.38%, which is again more in male than female and there is a correlation between BMI and BP.