Risk factors for hypertension among young adults (18-35) years attending in Tenwek Mission Hospital, Bomet County, Kenya in 2018

Abstract

Introduction: hypertension ranks third in the world, after underweight and unsafe sex, in the list of six major risk factors contributing to the global
disease. In Kenya, the prevalence stands at 24% in the general population, while among the young adults, the incidence of hypertension has been
reported to be in the rise; a fact attributed to increased number of risks. We therefore sought to determine awareness and risk factors of hypertension
among young adults attending Tenwek hospital. Methods: a case-control study of young adults ages 18-35, involving 80 cases and 80 controls at
Tenwek Mission Hospital, Bomet County. Cases included males and females newly diagnosed with hypertension (diagnosed at the time of data
collection) and if they reported taking antihypertensive medication and reported as hypertensives in the hospital records at any clinic visit or at
interview, while controls included persons with no history of hypertension. Results: those having a BMI≥25 were 3.05 times more likely to be
hypertensive (OR: 3.05, 95% CI 1.26, 7.40; p=0.014). Having a relative suffering from hypertension increased almost thrice the odds of being
hypertensive (OR: 2.78, 95% CI 1.20, 6. 46; p=0.018). Not drinking alcohol reduced the chance of suffering from hypertension by 70%, (OR=0.30,
95% CI 0.11, 0.81; p=0.017). Conclusion: the prevalence of hypertension in younger adults is not as low as generally perceived. Preventive
measures should be formulated in a manner to address variety of major risk factors in young adults.