A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Charles Kahindo Kangitsi; Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert; Larry Kasereka Kamabu; Charles Lwanga Bandima; François Polepole Maheshe; Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Charles Kahindo Kangitsi

, Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert^*

, Larry Kasereka Kamabu

, Charles Lwanga Bandima

, François Polepole Maheshe

, Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa

Published in Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 2 September 2025 Accepted: 28 September 2025 Published: 29 December 2025

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Abstract

High blood pressure (HBP) is a long-term health condition that elevates the risk of premature death in the general population. This research sought to evaluate how widespread hypertension is and to identify lifestyle-related risk factors among students at the University of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 306 students participated in the survey; 52.6% were male. Results showed that 31.4% of participants had HBP (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Risk factors associated with hypertension included obesity (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.292-0.893; p=0.019), alcohol consumption (OR: 0.299; 95% CI: 0.181-0.495; p<0.001), family history of hypertension (OR: 0.411; 95% CI: 0.25-0.676; p<0.001), personal history of hypertension (OR: 0.241; 95% CI: 0.092-0.634; p=0.004), and sleep duration (OR: 8.043; 95% CI: 4.51-14.346; p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBP was high and was associated with several lifestyle factors among students at the University of Goma.

Published in	Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
Page(s)	5-12
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Lifestyle, Hypertension, Students

References

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APA Style

Kangitsi, C. K., Albert, Y. B. A., Kamabu, L. K., Bandima, C. L., Maheshe, F. P., et al. (2025). A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Medicine and Life Sciences, 1(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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ACS Style

Kangitsi, C. K.; Albert, Y. B. A.; Kamabu, L. K.; Bandima, C. L.; Maheshe, F. P., et al. A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Med. Life Sci. 2025, 1(1), 5-12. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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AMA Style

Kangitsi CK, Albert YBA, Kamabu LK, Bandima CL, Maheshe FP, et al. A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Med Life Sci. 2025;1(1):5-12. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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@article{10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12,
  author = {Charles Kahindo Kangitsi and Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert and Larry Kasereka Kamabu and Charles Lwanga Bandima and François Polepole Maheshe and Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa},
  title = {A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo},
  journal = {Medicine and Life Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {5-12},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mls.20250101.12},
  abstract = {High blood pressure (HBP) is a long-term health condition that elevates the risk of premature death in the general population. This research sought to evaluate how widespread hypertension is and to identify lifestyle-related risk factors among students at the University of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 306 students participated in the survey; 52.6% were male. Results showed that 31.4% of participants had HBP (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Risk factors associated with hypertension included obesity (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.292-0.893; p=0.019), alcohol consumption (OR: 0.299; 95% CI: 0.181-0.495; p<0.001), family history of hypertension (OR: 0.411; 95% CI: 0.25-0.676; p<0.001), personal history of hypertension (OR: 0.241; 95% CI: 0.092-0.634; p=0.004), and sleep duration (OR: 8.043; 95% CI: 4.51-14.346; p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBP was high and was associated with several lifestyle factors among students at the University of Goma.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo
AU  - Charles Kahindo Kangitsi
AU  - Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert
AU  - Larry Kasereka Kamabu
AU  - Charles Lwanga Bandima
AU  - François Polepole Maheshe
AU  - Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
T2  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JF  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JO  - Medicine and Life Sciences
SP  - 5
EP  - 12
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
AB  - High blood pressure (HBP) is a long-term health condition that elevates the risk of premature death in the general population. This research sought to evaluate how widespread hypertension is and to identify lifestyle-related risk factors among students at the University of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 306 students participated in the survey; 52.6% were male. Results showed that 31.4% of participants had HBP (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Risk factors associated with hypertension included obesity (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.292-0.893; p=0.019), alcohol consumption (OR: 0.299; 95% CI: 0.181-0.495; p<0.001), family history of hypertension (OR: 0.411; 95% CI: 0.25-0.676; p<0.001), personal history of hypertension (OR: 0.241; 95% CI: 0.092-0.634; p=0.004), and sleep duration (OR: 8.043; 95% CI: 4.51-14.346; p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBP was high and was associated with several lifestyle factors among students at the University of Goma.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Charles Kahindo Kangitsi

Department of Nephrology, University of Goma, Goma, DRC;Clinique Internationale de Médecine Avancée au Kivu, Goma, DRC

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1619-5805
Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert

Clinique Internationale de Médecine Avancée au Kivu, Goma, DRC;Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics, University of Goma, Goma, DRC

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2298-5862
Larry Kasereka Kamabu

Clinique Internationale de Médecine Avancée au Kivu, Goma, DRC;Department of Neurosurgery, Catholic University of Graben, Butembo, DRC

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2046-5617
Charles Lwanga Bandima

Clinique Internationale de Médecine Avancée au Kivu, Goma, DRC

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4454-1795
François Polepole Maheshe

Department of Nephrology, University of Goma, Goma, DRC;Clinique Internationale de Médecine Avancée au Kivu, Goma, DRC

http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5575-642X
Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, DRC

http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1541-7524

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APA Style

Kangitsi, C. K., Albert, Y. B. A., Kamabu, L. K., Bandima, C. L., Maheshe, F. P., et al. (2025). A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Medicine and Life Sciences, 1(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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ACS Style

Kangitsi, C. K.; Albert, Y. B. A.; Kamabu, L. K.; Bandima, C. L.; Maheshe, F. P., et al. A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Med. Life Sci. 2025, 1(1), 5-12. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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AMA Style

Kangitsi CK, Albert YBA, Kamabu LK, Bandima CL, Maheshe FP, et al. A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Med Life Sci. 2025;1(1):5-12. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12

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@article{10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12,
  author = {Charles Kahindo Kangitsi and Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert and Larry Kasereka Kamabu and Charles Lwanga Bandima and François Polepole Maheshe and Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa},
  title = {A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo},
  journal = {Medicine and Life Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {5-12},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mls.20250101.12},
  abstract = {High blood pressure (HBP) is a long-term health condition that elevates the risk of premature death in the general population. This research sought to evaluate how widespread hypertension is and to identify lifestyle-related risk factors among students at the University of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 306 students participated in the survey; 52.6% were male. Results showed that 31.4% of participants had HBP (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Risk factors associated with hypertension included obesity (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.292-0.893; p=0.019), alcohol consumption (OR: 0.299; 95% CI: 0.181-0.495; p<0.001), family history of hypertension (OR: 0.411; 95% CI: 0.25-0.676; p<0.001), personal history of hypertension (OR: 0.241; 95% CI: 0.092-0.634; p=0.004), and sleep duration (OR: 8.043; 95% CI: 4.51-14.346; p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBP was high and was associated with several lifestyle factors among students at the University of Goma.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Cross-sectional Study on Lifestyle Factors Related to High Blood Pressure Among Medical Students in the City of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo
AU  - Charles Kahindo Kangitsi
AU  - Yemba Baruani Ahuka Albert
AU  - Larry Kasereka Kamabu
AU  - Charles Lwanga Bandima
AU  - François Polepole Maheshe
AU  - Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa
Y1  - 2025/12/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
T2  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JF  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JO  - Medicine and Life Sciences
SP  - 5
EP  - 12
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20250101.12
AB  - High blood pressure (HBP) is a long-term health condition that elevates the risk of premature death in the general population. This research sought to evaluate how widespread hypertension is and to identify lifestyle-related risk factors among students at the University of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 306 students participated in the survey; 52.6% were male. Results showed that 31.4% of participants had HBP (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Risk factors associated with hypertension included obesity (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.292-0.893; p=0.019), alcohol consumption (OR: 0.299; 95% CI: 0.181-0.495; p<0.001), family history of hypertension (OR: 0.411; 95% CI: 0.25-0.676; p<0.001), personal history of hypertension (OR: 0.241; 95% CI: 0.092-0.634; p=0.004), and sleep duration (OR: 8.043; 95% CI: 4.51-14.346; p<0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBP was high and was associated with several lifestyle factors among students at the University of Goma.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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