Assessment of Resting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Patterns Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Benin, Edo State

Cardiovascular health monitoring among young adults has gained renewed attention in recent years, given the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. This study investigates resting heart rate and blood pressure patterns among undergraduate students at the University of Benin, Edo State, with the aim of establishing baseline cardiovascular indices for this population. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, recruiting 200 participants aged 18 to 25 years through stratified random sampling. Resting heart rate was measured using a digital pulse oximeter, while blood pressure was assessed with a validated automatic sphygmomanometer after a ten-minute seated rest. Data were also collected on lifestyle factors including physical activity level, dietary habits, alcohol use, and smoking status using a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that 18.5 percent of participants had elevated blood pressure readings, with male students recording higher mean systolic values than female counterparts. Sedentary behaviour and poor dietary habits were significantly associated with elevated indices. The study concludes that subclinical cardiovascular risk is present in a meaningful proportion of this young population and recommends routine cardiovascular screening within university health centres. Lifestyle modification programmes targeting physical activity and dietary awareness are proposed as low-cost interventions. Keywords: blood pressure, resting heart rate, undergraduate students, cardiovascular risk, Edo State.