ISSN : 2663-2187

Study of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring-Based Hypertension Evaluation of Postgraduate Medical Students

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Sharada Sivaram K, Kalaivani NV, Aashish Arumugam, Magesh Vadivelu
ยป doi: 10.33472/AFJBS.6.6.2024.1460-1465

Abstract

Occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in young postgraduate medical students is a matter of significant concern. Hypertension (HTN) is important risk factor for CVD and death. Ambulatory 24-hour BP monitoring (ABPM) is recommended standard of evaluation of HTN. Aim &Objectives: Screen for cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and ABPM-based hypertension in young postgraduate medical students of our college. Methods And Materials:In this cross-sectional study, medical students, between 20-40 years, doing postgraduate course in our institute were chosen for screening of cardiovascular risk factors and evaluation of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP & DBP) with ABPM. Subjects with past history of HTN were excluded. Results: There were 41 young PG doctors (18 females and 23 males) with mean 27.6(23-32) years. Occurrence of CV risk factors was high, namely: family history of HTN/CAD 67%, smoking 29%, alcohol consumption 51%, sedentariness 53% and elevated BMI 63%.Mean 24-hour SBP and/or DBP was elevated in 13 (31%)(p-0.056), all males, of whom BP remained high at night in 7. On gender-based analysis, males had higher occurrence of smoking/alcohol and elevated BMI, while females were more sedentary. Conclusion: Postgraduate medical students have significant cardiovascular risk factors and early hypertension without awareness.

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