Prevalence and associated factors of elevated blood pressure in adolescents in schools in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is a major public health problem worldwide due to its high prevalence and its association with cardiovascular diseases with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality cardiovascular. Elevated Blood Pressure (EBP) in adolescence progresses to hypertension in adulthood. Objective: To determine the prevalence of EBP and identify associated factors in adolescents in the school community in Lubumbashi. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study, using a random sample of adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old, enrolled in secondary schools in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each student was subject to three measures of Blood Pressure (BP). The prevalence of EBP was determined according to the new standards internationally. The different associations between EBP with sex, birth weight, status weight, waist circumference and heart rate were evaluated. Results: 1,766 adolescents participated in the study. The overall prevalence of EBP was 30.6%. Associated factors with EBP were overweight (p<0.0001), obesity [boys (p=0.049), gender female (p<0.0001)], waist circumference (p<0.0001) and heart rate (p=0.034). In log-binomial regression, only the waist circumference (p<0.0001) and heart rate (p=0.014) were the factors associated with the occurrence of EBP. Conclusion: Lubumbashi school's adolescents have an abnormally EBP. This notion challenges public health policy makers to put in place prevention and fi ght against hypertension since childhood.