AUTHOR=Alahmad Shuaib , Samman Abudlla , Al Kayali Rawaa 

TITLE=Unveiling the Silent Threat: Exploring Hypertension Prevalence and Risk Factors Among University Students in Syria

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 70 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2025.1607939

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2025.1607939

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objective: Hypertension prevalence has increase over the last decades around the world. No data is available on the prevalence and correlates of hypertension and elevated pressure among young adults in Syria. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and elevated pressure among universities students and to identify the associated sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors.Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation with 1100 students randomly sampled from university students of Aleppo and Al Wataniya universities. Risk factors, and measurements data were collected using questionnaire. Hypertension categorize according to ACC/AHA guidelines.Results: Of 1100 undergraduate university students, males were (70.2%). The participant age ranged (18-30 years) with mean age 21 (±1.82). The prevalence of elevated pressure and hypertension were 27.7%, 15.9% respectively. The main common risk factors for elevated pressure and hypertension were gender, age, smoking, stress and BMI. Family history was only correlated to hypertension.The prevalence of hypertension among undergraduate's students was higher than other countries which call for urgent policy actions targeting this age group for early hypertension prevention.