Prehypertension among Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study of Medical and Non-Medical Students in Bangladesh

Abstract

Prehypertension in young adults is a modifiable precursor to hypertension and later cardiovascular disease. Robust, stream-wise estimates among Bangladeshi university students are limited. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study (October 2024-March 2025) among 402 undergraduates recruited via convenience sampling from Bangladesh Medical College (medical stream) and North South University (non-medical stream), Dhaka. Seated blood pressure was measured twice (1min apart) using a validated device; the mean was classified per JNC-7. A structured questionnaire captured sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. We reported prevalence, bivariate associations (χ²), and multivariable logistic regressions for sociodemographic and lifestyle predictors. Overall prehypertension prevalence was 22.6% (91/402). The proportion was higher among medical students (24.9%) than non-medical students (20.4%); the difference was not statistically significant. Descriptively, prehypertension was more common in males, overweight students, smokers, short sleepers (5-6 h), hostel residents, and those reporting moderate stress. In adjusted models, no variable reached statistical significance; point estimates suggested higher odds with obesity and short sleep and lower odds with moderate (vs. mild) stress, with wide confidence intervals. More than one in five undergraduates screened had prehypertension, with concerning patterns across modifiable risks despite no single independent predictor. University health systems should implement routine BP screening and campus-tailored programs for weight management, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, and tobacco control.