Introduction
Arterial hypertension (AH) remains one of the most significant medico-social problems of our time. AH is no longer confined to the elderly population. Modern epidemiological trends indicate a marked ‘rejuvenation’ of the condition, as recent data point to a growing incidence of high blood pressure among younger individuals, posing a substantial challenge to public health. [1]. Studies indicate that a high heart rate (HR) serves not only as a symptom but also as an independent predictor of the development of AH [2]. In individuals with a HR exceeding 80 bpm, the risk of developing sustained hypertension is 2-3 times higher compared to those with normal resting heart rate [3, 4]. This problem is particularly relevant in the student population, where life-style-related stress and psycho-emotional strain provoke autonomic imbalance [5].
An increase in HR directly raises cardiac output and shortens the time for diastolic vascular relaxation, creating excessive pressure on the vessel wall [3]. Excess catecholamines simultaneously induce tachycardia and vasoconstriction, increasing total peripheral resistance. A high pulse wave frequency damages the endothelium, reducing nitric oxide synthesis and disrupting vasodilation mechanisms [6]. Sympathetic stimulation activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, leading to sodium retention, and an increase in circulating blood volume [2].
In the current stratification of cardiovascular risk, special attention is paid to threshold HR values. According to recent clinical guidelines (2024 European Society of Hypertension), a resting HR exceeding 80 bpm is recognized as an independent risk factor for the development of arterial hypertension, as it serves as a clinical marker of sustained sympathetic overactivity. A HR exceeding 100 bpm is the classic criterion for tachycardia. It has been shown that at such a frequency, the pulse wave becomes “aggressive,” causing mechanical trauma to the arterial intima (shear stress), which irreversibly reduces nitric oxide synthesis [6]. Objective. To study the prevalence of episodes of tachycardia at rest and their association with self-reported episodes of elevated/reduced blood pressure Among third-year female students of Grodno State Medical University during the 2025/2026 academic year. Materials and Methods. The study involved 385 third-year female students at Grodno State Medical University (GRSMU) during the 2025–2026 academic year. Voluntary informed consent was obtained from all participants. The students were anonymously surveyed on the occurrence of tachycardia episodes (exceeding 80 and 100 bpm), as well as self-reported episodes of elevated or reduced blood pressure (response options: “yes,” “no,” “don’t know”). Students who answered “don’t know” were excluded from the analysis. Data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies (%). Comparisons of distributions were performed using Fisher’s exact test. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 0.05. Statistical data processing was carried out using StatSoft STATISTICA 10.0 software. Results and Discussion. It was found that among female students experiencing episodes of resting tachycardia >80 bpm (n=130), episodes of elevated BP were significantly more frequent compared to those without such episodes (n=180): 31.54% and 17.22%, respectively (p=0.003, Table 1).
|
History of tachycardia (>80 bpm)
|
n
|
No history of elevated BP
|
History of elevated BP
|
|
No
|
180
|
82.78% (149)
|
17.22% (31)
|
|
Yes
|
130
|
68.46% (89)
|
31.54% (41)
|
Table 1: History of tachycardia (>80 bpm) and self-reported episodes of elevated blood pressure in third-year female students at GRSMU, 2025/2026 academic year, % (n)
|
History of tachycardia (>100 bpm)
|
n
|
No history of elevated BP
|
History of elevated BP
|
|
No
|
262
|
80.53% (211)
|
19.47% (51)
|
|
Yes
|
39
|
56.41% (22)
|
43.59% (17)
|
Table 2: – History of tachycardia (>100 bpm) and self-reported episodes of elevated blood pressure in third-year female students at GRSMU, 2025/2026 academic year, % (n) Among students experiencing episodes of resting tachycardia >100 bpm (n=39), episodes of elevated BP were also more frequent com-pared to those without such episodes (n=262): 43.59% and 19.47%, respectively (p=0.001, Table 2).
|
History of tachycardia (>80 bpm)
|
n
|
No history of hypotension
|
History of hypotension
|
|
No
|
181
|
56.91% (103)
|
43.09% (78)
|
|
Yes
|
138
|
34.78% (48)
|
65.22% (90)
|
Table 3: History of tachycardia (>80 bpm) and self-reported episodes of low blood pressure in third-year female students at GRSMU, 2025/2026 academic year, % (n)
When examining the prevalence of reduced BP, it was found that among students with a history of tachycardia >80 bpm (n=138), epi-sodes of hypotension were more frequent compared to those without such episodes (n=181): 65.22% and 43.09%, respectively (p<0.001, Table 3).
|
History of tachycardia (>100 bpm)
|
n
|
No history of hypotension
|
History of hypotension
|
|
No
|
262
|
53.44% (140)
|
46.56% (122)
|
|
Yes
|
46
|
26.09% (12)
|
73.91% (34)
|
Table 4: – History of tachycardia (>100 bpm) and self-reported episodes of low blood pressure in third-year female students at GRSMU, 2025/2026 academic year, % (n)
The obtained data reflect a significant autonomic imbalance in female students experiencing episodes of resting tachycardia, characterized by increased variability in blood pressure regulation.
Conclusion
The presence of resting tachycardia episodes (>80 and >100 bpm) is associated with increased blood pressure variability, manifested by a significantly higher frequency of both elevated and reduced blood pressure episodes among third-year female students at GrSMU.
