Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Hypertension in Young Adults: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Hypertension in young adults is increasingly recognized as an important public health problem because elevated blood pressure that begins early in life may persist for decades and contribute to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal complications. Although hypertension has traditionally been associated with older populations, recent national and international evidence indicates that young adults are also affected, often with low awareness and suboptimal control. This narrative review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiological basis, clinical relevance, and major risk factors of hypertension in young adults, with emphasis on evidence from Indonesia and global studies. The reviewed literature shows that hypertension in this age group is influenced by both non-modifiable factors, including age, sex, and family history, and modifiable factors, including excess body weight, high-salt dietary patterns, fast-food consumption, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus, and psychosocial stress. The burden of hypertension among young adults is clinically significant because early exposure to elevated blood pressure increases the risk of adverse long-term outcomes. Prevention should prioritize regular blood pressure screening, lifestyle modification, weight control, dietary improvement, physical activity, and risk communication tailored to young populations. Early identification and comprehensive prevention strategies are essential to reduce future cardiovascular disease burden.