Prehypertension and black-white contrasts in cardiovascular  risk in young adults: Bogalusa Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the association of prehypertension with measures of cardiovascular disease risk in a biracial (black-white) population of young adults.


METHODS
As part of the Bogalusa Heart Study, echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography were performed along with cardiovascular risk factor measurements in 1379 young adult participants (age range 20-44 years, average 36 years; 43% men, 70% white). Participants were categorized as normotensives (60%), prehypertensives (27%) and hypertensives (13%).


RESULTS
The prevalence of prehypertension was significantly higher among men than women (35 vs. 22%) and among blacks than whites (29 vs. 27%). Compared with normotensives, prehypertensives had a greater adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile. Male sex and BMI equally and significantly contributed to the prehypertension status in both whites [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval 2.66 (1.88-3.74) and 1.10 (1.07-1.14)] and blacks [OR: 2.56 (1.51-4.33) and 1.05 (1.01-1.09)]. Additionally, prehypertensives compared with normotensives had significantly higher left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV internal diameter, and carotid artery intima-media thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
The condition of prehypertension in young adults shows men>women and black women>white women, and participants with prehypertension already have adverse profiles of risk factors and indices of subclinical cardiovascular disease. A greater percentage of blacks at a relatively young age fall into the hypertensive category. These findings underscore the need for aggressive management of cardiovascular risk in youth at levels below those considered as hypertension.
Toprak
Ahmet
A
Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Wang
Hongwei
H
Chen
Wei
W
Paul
Timir
T
Ruan
Litao
L
Srinivasan
Sathanur
S
Berenson
Gerald
G
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult