Prevalence of Hypertension and Risk Factors among engineering students of Batangas State

University Main Campus II during examination week

Introduction
Hypertension has been described as the great risk factor for early morbidity and mortality at
present, yet people either unaware or neglect it. Hypertension is the third leading cause of death
in the world, with a mortality rate of 13% (Tailakh et al., 2013). Moreover, Singh and Shankar
(2017) found that around 7.5 million deaths or 12.8% of the total of all annual deaths worldwide
occur due to high blood pressure and predicted to be increased to 1.56 billion adults with
hypertension in 2025. The Department of Health stated that hypertension remains to be the
leading cause of illness and primary contributor to premature death in the Philippines. Over 12
million Filipinos suffer from it however more than half are unaware of their condition earning its
tag as “silent killer.” If hypertension is left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to stroke or
heart attack, both of which can result in disability and can be fatal. Other than coronary heart
disease and stroke, its complications include heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, renal
impairment, retinal hemorrhage, and visual impairment. According to the Joint National
Committee 7 (JNC7), normal blood pressure is a systolic BP < 120 mmHg and diastolic BP < 80
mm Hg. Hypertension is defined as systolic BP level of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP level ≥ 90
mmHg.
Stress can cause hypertension through repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by
stimulation of the nervous system to produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones that
increase blood pressure (Kulkarni et al., 1998). The mental stress and lack of sleep gets portrayed
in physical aches, slouched backs and tense shoulders. Furthermore, when one risk factor is
coupled with other stress producing factors, the effect on blood pressure is multiplied. Stress is
an inevitable part of a student’s life (Gallagher, 2009; Mackenzie et al., 2011). Some previous
studies state that moderate amount of stress is beneficial for students to achieve success in life
(Larson & Luthans, 2006), whereas an extreme amount of stress may devastate them and lead to
anxiety, depression and psychological problems (Larson & Luthans, 2006). The National Survey
on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) says that at least 8.4 percent of full-time college students aged
18-22 have experienced a major depressive episode. The top five overall stressors of the
respondents were academic difficulty of subject matter, workload due to subjects, time
management because of subjects, responsibilities due to being on one's own, and time
management because of both subjects and organizations (Dy et al., 2013). Overall, studies show
that stress does not directly cause hypertension, but can have an effect on its development.
The prevention and control of hypertension have not received due attention from many
developing countries. Although, according to Food Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the
National prevalence of hypertension among Filipino adults (20 years old and over), had
significantly increased after a decline in 2013 from 22.3% to 23.9% in 2015. DOH also revealed
that hypertension remains to be the leading cause of illness and said to be one of the identified
precipitating factors of premature death in the Philippines and the awareness about treatment
and control of hypertension is extremely low. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess
the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among engineering students in
Batangas State University Main Campus II.

Methodology
The topic of this research was to enquire the depth of knowledge and the rate of change of
blood pressure of the engineering students during examination week. Likewise, the research
aimed at targeting the population’s thinking and behavior towards preventive measures of
hypertension. Designing a good research strategy played a significant role in the process. A
quantitative descriptive study design was conducted and carefully gathered data through a
sphygmomanometer. The method used offered the researchers a good perspective as well as
good data presented descriptively.
Research is dependent on sampling (Houser 2008). The researcher selected one of their
members as the sample for the research. Blood pressure was measured two times on the right
arm of the selected subject using automatic electronic device (MICROLIFE BP38M1-3P). The
average of two readings was used. The data was collected from a period of two weeks
specifically during and after the examination week, with the help of a qualified personnel with a
degree in Medical Technology. The data was collected and imputed into Microsoft Excel for
analysis. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were calculated for continuous
variables and frequencies and percentages were calculated to summarize qualitative data. Other
statistical tests like t test and linear regression were applied.

Scope of the Report

The general intent of this study is to identify how the stress from examination week as a
triggering factor to hypertension and provide solutions regarding this problems. The research
sample is composed of one engineering understudy from Batangas State University Main
Campus II. The primary gathering method used was observation to determine the changes in
blood pressure of the sample within two weeks.
Hypertension has many risks factors including age, race, family history, obesity, not being
physically active, using tobacco, too much salt, too little potassium, drinking too much alcohol,
and stress. However, the study is delimited to stress as contributing factor to hypertension. This
study will mainly identify and assess how the stress serves a contributing factor that could lead
to hypertension. In addition, this study yearn to identify the possible solutions and alternatives
to students currently facing such cases and prevent problem that may come in the future among
engineering students.
DCOVA
The DCOVA Framework helps you to apply statistics to summarize and visualize business data,
Reach conclusion from those data, to make reliable predictions about business activities and to
make decisions in business based on actual statistics predictions.

Define the Data

The data of the study is merely about blood pressure measurement within a period of two
weeks. It requires numerical type of variables that represent quantities arise from measuring
process specifically the continuous variable. The span of measurement or weeks serves as the
independent variable while the blood pressure measurement is the dependent variable. In
addition, the level of measurement used is the interval scale since the difference between
measurements is a meaningful quantity but the measurements do not have true zero point.

Collection of the Data

The study involves collecting data wherein the source is primary from an observational method.
The blood pressure is being monitored twice a day using automatic electronic device (MICROLIFE
BP38M1-3P) and with the help of a qualified personnel with the degree in Medical Technology. .
The data was collected from a period of two weeks specifically during and after the examination
week. The average of the two blood pressure readings were used as the data.
Organization of the Data
Visualization of the Data
Analyzation of Data

Conclusion
From the results of this study, it can be concluded that there is a sudden change in blood
pressure between regular weeks and examination week. Stress is a contributing factor that
makes the students vulnerable to both prehypertension and hypertension and other unbearable
health consequences. Hypertension is a silent killer that must take into account before it can
become epidemic. The attitude among students of turning a blind eye towards the risk factors is
a harbinger of serious diseases such as stroke and heart attack which could be fatal. Programs
are needed to improve the awareness about it and implementation of school based screening
programs for early detection of hypertension is also needed. Interventions like weight
management, increased physical activity, increased fruits and vegetables consumption, and
reduction in tobacco and alcohol use are required and recommended. In addition, health
promotion regarding hypertension should be provided in the population as means of primary
prevention to have an environment with hypertension-free people.
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Dy, Marison & Espiritu-Santo, Klarisse & Ferido, Melissa & Ria, Sanchez. (2015). Stressors and
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