Coexistence of Prehypertension and Hypertension and Obesity in Young Adults in Arar, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Obesity often coexists with hypertension (HTN) and a linear relationship between blood pressure (BP) values and weight was observed. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of prehypertension and hypertension and to estimate the coexistence of prehypertension and hypertension and obesity in young adults in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: This was a cross sectional study. The study subjects were selected from health young adults attending 5 randomly selected primary health care centers in Arar city, the capital of the Northern Province of KSA. Participants were given a predesigned and pretested questionnaire to collect the relevant data. Results: Among the studied participants, Fifty (52.1%) of females and 58.8% of males were prehypertensive and 1.5% from males were hypertensive. 37.9% of the studied participants were obese and same percentage were overweight. 18.2% of obese were hypertensive or pre-hypertensive and 40.9% of overweight were hypertensive or pre-hypertensive. While 3% of the underweight were hypertensive or prehypertensive and 3% were not (P<0.05). Conclusion: in young adults in Arar, KSA. 37.9% of the studied participants were obese and same percentage were overweight. About half of females and more than half of males were pre-hypertensive and small percentage of males were hypertensive. Obesity was associated with pre-hypertension and hypertension. So education sessions should be carried out to educate the public specially adolescents and young adult population.

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