Monitoreo domiciliario de presión arterial y factores de riesgo cardiovascular en jóvenes estudiantes de medicina de una universidad privada en Lima, Perú.

Objective: To describe blood pressure (BP) values monitored at home (MAH) and to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in young medical students of a private university in Lima, Peru. Methods: Descriptive study of medical students between 18 and 23 years of age who filled-in a questionnaire on epidemiologic and life style data. An anthropometric evaluation was performed as well. Results: 46 students of the second year at the Medical School were recruited. One participant had high BP previously. Prevalence of high BO was 4.3%; 26.1% had overweight, mostly in males. Abdominal obesity was seen in 45.7% and abdominal obesity adjusted by age was seen in 65.2% of females and in 52.2% of males. Males had higher BP values; 66.7% of overweight and 100% of obese participants were sedentary. Over weighted participants had higher mean BP levels (p<0.05) compared to those with normal body weight. A linear regression was observed between mean BP values and cervical perimeter and abdominal circumference. Conclusions: Frequency of high BP found was not predictable. CRF such as overweight, abdominal obesity and sedentarism were prevalent in this population. BP-MAH should be introduced in future studies of high BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]