Patterns of blood pressure and factors associated with hypertension among young adults in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Hypertension is increasingly recognised among younger adults and contributes to early cardiovascular risk, yet population-level data in this age group remain limited in many low- and middle-income countries. This study examined the patterns of blood pressure, the prevalence of hypertension and factors associated with hypertension among adults aged 18–45 years in Nigeria. A secondary statistical analysis was performed on the Sexual Behaviour and HPV Infections in Nigerians (SHINI) study dataset, which included sexually active males and females between 18 and 45 years old in Ibadan. A face-to-face interview was conducted and participants’ socio-demographic, behavioural, lifestyle, and biological characteristics were recorded. Specifically, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements were measured. Participants were classified as having stage 1 hypertension if the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was ≥ 130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was ≥ 80 mmHg, and as having stage 2 hypertension if SBP was ≥ 140 mmHg and DBP was ≥ 90 mmHg. The association between hypertension status and participants’ characteristics was assessed using the chi-square test. Crude and multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with hypertension. All analyses were performed with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. The data of 941 participants were used for this analysis. The mean SBP was higher among males (121.1 ± 15.3 mmHg) than females (119.8 ± 19.2 mmHg), while the mean DBP was significantly higher among females (81.5 ± 14.4 mmHg) than males (75.0 ± 11.6 mmHg) (p < 0.001). Overall, 19.9% of participants had stage 1 hypertension and 9.0% had stage 2 hypertension. Both stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension were significantly more prevalent in females than in males. Age and BMI were significantly associated with higher odds of stage 1 hypertension while age was significantly associated with stage 2 hypertension. Stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension are more prevalent among females than males among sexually active young adults aged 18–45 years in Ibadan, Nigeria. This study highlights the importance of targeted hypertension screening among young adults, with particular attention to females and those experiencing marital stress or separation.