title: [Arterial pre-hypertension in young adults].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prehypertension is a new category of blood pressure and is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. This study has aimed to estimate the prevalence of prehypertension and the association between prehypertension and other vascular risk factors in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  First year university students from all areas of study in the University of Cuenca were invited to participate. Prehypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure between 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80-89 mmHg. Anthropometric, lipid and metabolic variables were measures. The presence of metabolic syndrome was evaluated and quantified based on the sum of the standardized scores of the waist circumference, the triglyceride/c-HDL ratio, mean blood pressure and R-HOMA (Index of insulin resistance to glucose lowering effect).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 545 university students were included in the analysis (mean age 20.36±3.9 years, 74.7% women). Prehypertension prevalence was 24% (95% CI: 21-27%), (56.5% in men and 13% in women). The condition of prehypertension was directly associated to the body mass index (OR: 1.194; 95% CI: 1.124-1.311), insulin resistance (R-HOMA, OR: 2.638; 95% CI: 1.263-4.926) and to the index or quantification of the severity of the metabolic syndrome (OR: 4-868; 95% CI: 3-846-8-328). On the other hand, HDL-c showed an inverse relationship with prehypertension (OR: 0.981; 95% CI: 0.957-0.993).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One out of every four young adults presents prehypertension. This condition is associated to well-established vascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Sociosanitarios, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Galeano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franquelo-Morales
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Notario-Pacheco
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nieto Rodríguez
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ungría Cañete
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vizcaíno
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult