High blood pressure in secondary school adolescents: Disease burden in the Bamenda municipality, North West region of Cameroon

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with high blood pressure in secondary school adolescents in the Bamenda municipality, the North West region of Cameroon. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted over 5 months, involving 720 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years from 13 secondary schools, using a multi-stage sampling approach. Blood pressure was measured using both oscillometric and mercury sphygmomanometer devices. Weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Participants with high blood pressure values at the first visit underwent repeat screening for over 3 weeks and hypertension defined according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Logistic regression analyzed factors associated with hypertension, considering P < .05 as statistically significant at 95% Confidence Interval. The prevalence of hypertension was 5% (4% for stage I and 1% for stage II) and that of elevated Blood Pressure was 4.3%. There was an increase in blood pressure with an increase in age. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly positively correlated with BMI. There was a significant association between enrolled in private school (aOR = 0.32; P = .006) and obesity (aOR = 2.94; P = .017) with hypertension in these participants. This study provides valuable insights into the alarming prevalence of hypertension among secondary school adolescents in Bamenda, Cameroon. The identification of key risk factor, obesity, calls for comprehensive strategies to promote healthy lifestyle, regular screening and timely management of high blood pressure in this vulnerable population.