JHSM

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

EndNote Style
Index
Original Article
Hypertension awareness among university students: the impact of education and societal factors
Aims: Hypertension (HT) is a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, contributing significantly to the burden of cardiovascular diseases. Despite its widespread prevalence, HT is often underdiagnosed and poorly managed, particularly among younger populations. This study investigates HT awareness among university students, focusing on the impact of education, gender, and lifestyle practices.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 546 students from various academic disciplines using an online questionnaire that assessed demographics, HT awareness, lifestyle factors, and blood pressure monitoring habits. Statistical comparisons were performed using independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and correlation analyses.
Results: Study results revealed notable disparities in HT awareness and behaviors. Medical students demonstrated higher awareness of risk factors, diagnostic thresholds, and BP monitoring practices compared to non-medical students. Females consistently exhibited healthier lifestyle behaviors, including lower smoking prevalence, greater physical activity, and proactive BP monitoring. Awareness of dietary factors contributing to HT was moderate (62.8%), but knowledge of diagnostic BP thresholds was alarmingly low (22.9%), even among medical students. Family history of cardiovascular diseases positively influenced HT awareness, while beliefs about COVID-19’s impact on BP regulation highlighted gaps in health literacy.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical role of formal education and targeted interventions in enhancing HT awareness. Integrating basic health education into non-medical curricula, addressing gender-specific disparities through tailored campaigns, and promoting familial health education are vital strategies for mitigating the long-term cardiovascular risks associated with undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension among young adults.


1. NCD risk factor collaboration (NCD-RisC). Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants. Lancet. 2021;398(10304):957-980. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01330-1
2. Di Cesare M, Perel P, Taylor S, et al. The heart of the World. Glob Heart. 2024;19(1):11. doi:10.5334/gh.1288
3. Gu J, Zhang XJ, Wang TH, Zhang Y, Chen Q. Hypertension knowledge, awareness, and self-management behaviors affect hypertension control: a community-based study in Xuhui District, Shanghai, China. Cardiology. 2014;127(2):96-104. doi:10.1159/000355576
4. Hamrahian SM, Falkner B. Approach to hypertension in adolescents and young adults. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2022;24(2):131-140. doi:10.1007/s11886-021-01632-x
5. Adediran E, Owens R, Gardner E, et al. Risk factors of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension in primary care patients with hypertension: a cross-sectional study. BMC Prim Care. 2024;25(1):311. doi:10.1186/s12875- 024-02511-4
6. Magnani JW, Mujahid MS, Aronow HD, et al. Health literacy and cardiovascular disease: fundamental relevance to primary and secondary prevention: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;138(2):e48-e74. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000 000000579
7. Hu Z, Wang X, Zheng C, et al. Association between the improvement of knowledge, attitude and practice of hypertension prevention and blood pressure control-a cluster randomized controlled study. Am J Health Promot. 2024;38(7):980-991. doi:10.1177/08901171241237016
8. Luo D, Cheng Y, Zhang H, et al. Association between high blood pressure and long term cardiovascular events in young adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;370:m3222. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3222
9. Zhang Y, Moran AE. Trends in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among young adults in the United States, 1999 to 2014. Hypertension. 2017;70(4):736-742. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.09801
10. Kaper MS, Reijneveld SA, van Es FD, et al. Effectiveness of a comprehensive health literacy consultation skills training for undergraduate medical students: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;17(1):81. doi:10.3390/ijerph17010081
11. Yang SC, Luo YF, Chiang CH. The Associations among individual factors, ehealth literacy, and health-promoting lifestyles among college students. J Med Internet Res. 2017;19(1):e15. doi:10.2196/jmir.5964
12. Tan J, Yoshida Y, Ma KS, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Lee CC. Gender differences in health protective behaviours and its implications for COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan: a population-based study. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1900. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-14288-1
13. Filippou CD, Tsioufis CP, Thomopoulos CG, et al. Dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet and blood pressure reduction in adults with and without hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Adv Nutr. 2020;11(5):1150-1160. doi:10. 1093/advances/nmaa041
14. Sogari G, Velez-Argumedo C, Gómez MI, Mora C. College students and eating habits: a study using an ecological model for healthy behavior. Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1823. doi:10.3390/nu10121823
15. Wu J, Chen D, Li C, Wang Y. Agreement between self-reported and objectively measured hypertension diagnosis and control: evidence from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in China. Arch Public Health. 2024;82(1):245. doi:10. 1186/s13690-024-01456-5
16. Rezaianzadeh A, Jafari F, Ghoddusi Johari M, Karami H. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among 10663 adults based on the baseline data of the Kherameh cohort study. J Tehran Heart Cent. 2023;18(2):102-108. doi:10.18502/jthc.v18i2.13319
17. Guzik TJ, Mohiddin SA, Dimarco A, et al. COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system: implications for risk assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options. Cardiovasc Res. 2020;116(10):1666-1687. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaa106
18. Ngoma C, Matatiyo A, Oke GI, Adebisi YA, Shomuyiwa DO. Navigating the digital frontier during the COVID-19 pandemic and EVALI epidemic: the impact of social media on public health. Public Health Challenges. 2024;3(2):e173. doi:10.1002/puh2.173
Volume 8, Issue 2, 2025
Page : 298-302
_Footer