Systolic blood pressure, socioeconomic status, and biobehavioral risk factors in a nationally representative US young adult sample

Pathways from parental educational attainment to adolescent blood pressure

OBJECTIVES

Lower parental education is associated with higher adolescent blood pressure (BP). We examined the contribution of modifiable risk factors from infancy to adolescence that could potentially explain the link between parental education and SBP and DBP in the offspring.

METHODS

In a prospective Chinese birth cohort, 'Children of 1997' of 5604 adolescents (68% follow-up), we analyzed the relation between parental educational attainment and sex-specific, age-specific and height-specific BP z-scores at ∼13 years. Using mediation analysis, we examined the contribution of household income at birth (both absolute income and relative income deprivation), exposures during infancy (breastfeeding and early life second-hand smoking), lifestyles during childhood (diet, physical activity and screen-time), weight or BMI status during fetal, infancy, childhood and puberty, pubertal stage as well as parental BMI.

RESULTS

We found that adolescent BMI, but not birth weight or infant growth or childhood BMI, mediated the inverse association of parental education with adolescent SBP (proportion mediated: 24%), followed by maternal BMI (proportion mediated: 18%). Factors explaining the link between parental education and DBP were less clear. Absolute income, breastfeeding, childhood diet and physical activity, pubertal stage and paternal BMI did not mediate the association between parental education and adolescent BP.

CONCLUSION

Low parental education is a risk factor for high SBP and, to a lesser extent, DBP in adolescents. Important mediators of this relation include adolescent and maternal body weight.

The Effects of Socioeconomic Determinants on Hypertension in a Cardiometabolic At-Risk European Country

Background

A relationship has been established between socioeconomic status and hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and to explore the links between hypertension and socioeconomic factors in the adult population of Malta.

Methods

A national representative cross-sectional health examination study was performed between 2014 and 2016. Sociodemographic and medical history data was gathered by validated questionnaires while blood pressure was measured. Prevalence rates of known hypertension, newly hypertension, and global hypertension were calculated. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and hypertension were identified through logistic regression models.

Results

Hypertension contributed to 30.12% (CI 95%: 28.71–31.57) of the study population, with a male preponderance. The majority was known hypertensive (73.59% CI 95%: 71.01–76.02), with only three-quarters on medication. Multivariant analyses showed that increasing age and body mass index, male gender, and living in Gozo, Western district, and Northern Harbour district were associated with having hypertension.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a problem in Malta especially in the male population and with increasing age and body mass index. Education did not exhibit any associated risk for having hypertension, which is inconsistent with the literature, while habitat localities played a role in hypertension development.

Heterogeneity in Blood Pressure Transitions Over the Life Course: Age-Specific Emergence of Racial/Ethnic and Sex Disparities in the United States

Importance

Many studies have assessed racial/ethnic and sex disparities in the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) from childhood to adulthood, yet few have examined differences in age-specific transitions between categories of BP over the life course in contemporary, multiracial/multiethnic populations.

Objective

To estimate age, racial/ethnic, and sex-specific annual net transition probabilities between categories of BP using Markov modeling of cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Design, Setting, and Participants

National probability sample (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007-2008, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012) of 17 747 African American, white American, and Mexican American participants aged 8 to 80 years. The data were analyzed from September 2014 to November 2015.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Age-specific American Heart Association-defined BP categories.

Results

Three National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cross-sectional samples were used to characterize the ages at which self-reported African American (n = 4973), white American (n = 8886), and Mexican American (n = 3888) populations transitioned between ideal BP, prehypertension, and hypertension across the life course. At age 8 years, disparities in the prevalence of ideal BP were observed, with the prevalence being lower among boys (86.6%-88.8%) compared with girls (93.0%-96.3%). From ages 8 to 30 years, annual net transition probabilities from ideal to prehypertension among male individuals were more than 2 times the net transition probabilities of their female counterparts. The largest net transition probabilities for ages 8 to 30 years occurred in African American young men, among whom a net 2.9% (95% CI, 2.3%-3.4%) of those with ideal BP transitioned to prehypertension 1 year later. Mexican American young women aged 8 to 30 years experienced the lowest ideal to prehypertension net transition probabilities (0.6%; 95% CI, 0.3%-0.8%). After age 40 years, ideal to prehypertension net transition probabilities stabilized or decreased (range, 3.0%-4.5%) for men, whereas net transition probabilities for women increased rapidly (range, 2.6%-13.0%). Mexican American women exhibited the largest ideal to prehypertension net transition probabilities after age 60 years. The largest prehypertension to hypertension net transition probabilities occurred at young ages in boys of white race/ethnicity and African Americans, approximately age 8 years and age 25 years, respectively, while net transition probabilities for white women and Mexican Americans increased over the life course.

Conclusions and Relevance

Heterogeneity in net transition probabilities from ideal BP emerge during childhood, with associated rapid declines in ideal BP observed in boys and African Americans, thus introducing disparities. Primordial prevention beginning in childhood and into early adulthood is necessary to preempt the development of prehypertension and hypertension, as well as associated racial/ethnic and sex disparities.

Retrospective Analysis of Annual Worksite Preventive Health Checkups on Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To examine worksite preventive care checkups on the prevalence of hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

Participants (N = 9269) participated in four annual checkups, counseled, and referred for physician follow-up. Hypertension and MetS prevalence were examined using general linear models or chi-squared analyses.

RESULTS

Significant reductions in the prevalence of hypertension in men (20 to 39 years [20% vs. Y2 9%], 40 to 65 years [38% vs. 20%], 65+ years [38% vs. 24%]) and women (20 to 39 years [8% vs. 4%], 40 to 65 years [23% vs. 11%], 65+ years [29% vs. 15%]), continuing through Y4. MetS followed a similar, yet attenuated pattern, with significance noted in men: (40 to 65 years; Y1 [48%] vs. Y2 [38%]; 65+ years [Y1 [42%] vs. Y3 [40%]]), and women (40 to 65 years group [Y1 [36%] vs. Y3 [32%]]; 65+ years [Y1 [41%] vs. Y3 [38%]]).

CONCLUSION

Preventive care checkups concurrent with physician referral may significantly help reduce hypertension and MetS in the workplace.

Tendência temporal da prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica no Brasil

Analisar as prevalências de hipertensão arterial referida por adultos brasileiros acima de 20 anos, e verificar as variáveis socioeconômicas associadas em três períodos de tempo. Os dados são da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD) realizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) nos anos de 1998 (196.439 participantes), 2003 (231.921) e 2008 (250.664). O desfecho era hipertensão arterial referida. As exposições principais eram renda em Reais e escolaridade em anos de estudos. A análise dos dados foi feita usando-se regressão de Poisson com variância robusta com controle para amostras complexas. Maiores prevalências de hipertensão arterial foram encontradas em pessoas com menor escolaridade, independentemente dos anos estudados e do sexo. Baixa renda esteve associada a maiores prevalências de hipertensão arterial independentemente dos anos estudados na amostra total e nas mulheres. Dentre os homens, esse efeito não foi verificado nos anos de 1998 e 2003. Já em 2008, homens de alta renda apresentaram maiores prevalências de hipertensão arterial, sugerindo modificação de efeito. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho apontou o aumento das prevalências de hipertensão arterial nos períodos estudados, destacando sua associação negativa com aspectos socioeconômicos.

Evaluation of a Voluntary Work Site Weight Loss Program on Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a worksite weight loss program hypertension.

METHODS

Participants [N = 5998; body mass index (BMI) 34 ± 7 m/kg, 33% hypertensive] participating in a 10-week weight loss program were examined for hypertension prevalence within categories of (1) weight gain, or loss (2) less than 3%, (3) 3% to 5%, (4) 5% to 10%, and (5) more than 10% using general linear models or Chi-square analyses.

RESULTS

We observed a significant dose-response trend for the reduced prevalence of hypertension at follow-up (P-for-trend < 0.001). Baseline versus follow-up comparisons showed those gaining weight (28% vs 25%, adjres. = 2.5) or losing less than 3% (31% vs 25% adjres. = 2.9) were significantly more likely to present with hypertension at follow-up. Those losing 5% to 10% (33% vs 19%, adjres. = -3.2) or more than 10% (39% vs 17%, adjres. = -3.2) were significantly more likely to present without hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Weight loss more than 5% significantly reduced workplace hypertension, while gaining weight increased its likelihood.

(En)gendering Racial Disparities in Health Trajectories: A Life Course and Intersectional Analysis

Historically, intersectionality has been an underutilized framework in sociological research on racial/ethnic and gender inequalities in health. To demonstrate its utility and importance, we conduct an intersectional analysis of the social stratification of health using the exemplar of hypertension-a health condition in which racial/ethnic and gender differences have been well-documented. Previous research has tended to examine these differences separately and ignore how the interaction of social status dimensions may influence health over time. Using seven waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study and multilevel logistic regression models, we found a multiplicative effect of race/ethnicity and gender on hypertension risk trajectories, consistent with both an intersectionality perspective and persistent inequality hypothesis. Group differences in past and contemporaneous socioeconomic and behavioral factors did not explain this effect.

Assessing the Associations Between Awareness of Myocardial Infarction Symptoms, Socioeconomic Factors, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Through Regression Models

There are few studies that consider the association between awareness of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (MI), socioeconomic factors (household income, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment), and cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors. It is important to understand these associations because there is evidence that suggests that disparities in the awareness of MI symptoms lead to disparities in delays in receiving treatment and outcomes of patients with MI. The study was to determine if there are disparities in the awareness of different MI symptoms among different groups with respect to self-reported race, ethnicity, education, age, and income (i.e., various SES factors) in the presence/absence of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors. We utilized the 2003-2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, a nationally representative telephone-based survey, to evaluate the relationships between five common symptoms of MI, socioeconomic factors, and four major modifiable CVD risk factors. We found that being college-educated, a higher household income, making $75,000 a year or more, being female, being non-Hispanic White, having hypertension, and exercising regularly were generally associated with a higher probability of being aware of the MI symptoms evaluated in this study. Additionally, awareness that jaw/back/neck pain and feeling weak/light-headed/faint are symptoms of MI were found to be consistently lower compared to that of other MI symptoms, ranging from 50 to 75%, across all SES factors and CVD risk factors. The findings from this study can serve as a useful guide to facilitating targeted educational efforts aimed at improving awareness of MI symptoms that may ultimately reduce disparities in the outcomes of patients at risk for MI.

Relationships Between Current and Past Binge Drinking and Systolic Blood Pressure in Young Adults

PURPOSE

Heavy episodic (i.e., "binge") drinking (i.e., ≥five drinks/occasion) is highly prevalent among young adults; those who binge do so four times per month on average, consuming nine drinks on average on each occasion. Although it is well established that chronic heavy drinking (≥two alcoholic beverages per day) increases the risk of hypertension, the relationship between binge drinking and blood pressure is not well described. Our aim was to describe the relationship between frequency of binge drinking, both current (at age 24 years) and past (at age 20 years), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at age 24 years.

METHODS

Participants (n = 756) from the longitudinal Nicotine Dependence in Teens study reported alcohol consumption at ages 20 and 24 years and had SBP measured at age 24 years. We examined the association between binge drinking and SBP using multiple linear regression, controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, education, monthly drinking in high school, cigarette smoking, and body mass index.

RESULTS

Compared to nonbinge drinkers, SBP at age 24 years was 2.61 [.41, 4.82] mm Hg higher among current monthly bingers and 4.03 [1.35, 6.70] mm Hg higher among current weekly bingers. SBP at age 24 years was 2.90 [.54, 5.25] mm Hg higher among monthly bingers at age 20 years and 3.64 [.93, 6.35] mm Hg higher among weekly bingers at age 20 years, compared to nonbinge drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent binge drinking at ages 20 and 24 years is associated with higher SBP at age 24 years and may be implicated in the development of hypertension.

Effect of Smoking on Blood Pressure and Resting Heart Rate: A Mendelian Randomization Meta-Analysis in the CARTA Consortium

BACKGROUND

Smoking is an important cardiovascular disease risk factor, but the mechanisms linking smoking to blood pressure are poorly understood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data on 141 317 participants (62 666 never, 40 669 former, 37 982 current smokers) from 23 population-based studies were included in observational and Mendelian randomization meta-analyses of the associations of smoking status and smoking heaviness with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, and resting heart rate. For the Mendelian randomization analyses, a genetic variant rs16969968/rs1051730 was used as a proxy for smoking heaviness in current smokers. In observational analyses, current as compared with never smoking was associated with lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and lower hypertension risk, but with higher resting heart rate. In observational analyses among current smokers, 1 cigarette/day higher level of smoking heaviness was associated with higher (0.21 bpm; 95% confidence interval 0.19; 0.24) resting heart rate and slightly higher diastolic blood pressure (0.05 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 0.02; 0.08) and systolic blood pressure (0.08 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 0.03; 0.13). However, in Mendelian randomization analyses among current smokers, although each smoking increasing allele of rs16969968/rs1051730 was associated with higher resting heart rate (0.36 bpm/allele; 95% confidence interval 0.18; 0.54), there was no strong association with diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, or hypertension. This would suggest a 7 bpm higher heart rate in those who smoke 20 cigarettes/day.

CONCLUSIONS

This Mendelian randomization meta-analysis supports a causal association of smoking heaviness with higher level of resting heart rate, but not with blood pressure. These findings suggest that part of the cardiovascular risk of smoking may operate through increasing resting heart rate.

Who is at higher risk of hypertension? Socioeconomic status differences in blood pressure among Polish adolescents: a population-based ADOPOLNOR study

In Poland, there is no data on parental socioeconomic status (SES) as a potent risk factor in adolescent elevated blood pressure, although social differences in somatic growth and maturation of children and adolescents have been recorded since the 1980s. This study aimed to evaluate the association between parental SES and blood pressure levels of their adolescent offspring. A cross-sectional survey was carried out between 2009 and 2010 on a sample of 4941 students (2451 boys and 2490 girls) aged 10-18, participants in the ADOPOLNOR study. The depended outcome variable was the level of blood pressure (optimal, pre- and hypertension) and explanatory variables included place of residence and indicators of parental SES: family size, parental educational attainments and occupation status, income adequacy and family wealth. The final selected model of the multiple multinomial logistic regression analysis (MLRA) with backward elimination procedure revealed the multifactorial dependency of blood pressure levels on maternal educational attainment, paternal occupation and income adequacy interrelated to urbanization category of the place of residence after controlling for family history of hypertension, an adolescent's sex, age and weight status. Consistent rural-to-urban and socioeconomic gradients were found in prevalence of elevated blood pressure, which increased with continuous lines from large cities through small- to medium-sized cities to villages and from high-SES to low-SES familial environments. The adjusted likelihood of developing systolic and diastolic hypertension decreased with each step increase in maternal educational attainment and increased urbanization category. The likelihood of developing prehypertension decreased with increased urbanization category, maternal education, paternal employment status and income adequacy. Weight status appeared to be the strongest confounder of adolescent blood pressure level and, at the same time, a mediator between their blood pressure and parental SES.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study confirmed socioeconomic disparities in blood pressure levels among adolescents. This calls for regularly performed blood pressure assessment and monitoring in the adolescent population. It is recommended to focus on obesity prevention and socioeconomic health inequalities by further trying to improve living and working conditions in adverse rural environments.

Household income and adolescent blood pressure in a Chinese birth cohort: "Children of 1997"

The inconsistent relation of national income with population blood pressure raises questions as to whether social comparisons of relative income at individual or neighbourhood level may be more relevant than absolute income. We examined the associations of absolute household income (income per se), absolute neighbourhood median income (average income among geographically-proximate households), relative household income [deprivation using Yitzhaki index, or rank by position] (differences in income or rank compared with others) and relative neighbourhood income inequality [Gini coefficient] (income gap within a neighbourhood) with blood pressure z-score, prehypertension or hypertension at ∼13 years using a fixed effects multilevel linear or logistic model in a Chinese birth cohort (n = 5063, 61% of follow-up). Absolute household or neighbourhood income was not associated with adolescent blood pressure. Greater relative household income deprivation was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure (0.01 z-score per USD 128 difference in Yitzhaki index, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.005 to 0.02), so was lower relative household income rank (-0.10, 95% CI -0.15 to -0.04), but relative neighbourhood income inequality was not, when considering each income measure separately. Such associations remained when considering all income measures together. Income measures were not associated with prehypertension or hypertension. Relative household income (greater deprivation or lower rank) were positively associated with adolescent blood pressure independent of absolute household income while absolute or relative neighbourhood income had little contribution, suggesting social comparisons at a key developmental stage could be relevant. Clarifying specific effects of socioeconomic position across the life-course could inform interventions.

Health consequences of same and opposite-sex unions: partnership, parenthood, and cardiovascular risk among young adults

We use the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine union and parenthood differences across same and opposite-sex couples in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and abdominal adiposity (waist circumference) among partnered (dating, cohabiting, married) young adults ages 25-33. Relative to women dating men, women cohabiting with women reported lower DBP and were less likely to have high CRP. Mothers reported lower SBP and DBP than non-mothers, but were more likely to have high waist circumference if they lived with a biological or step-child. Among men, nonresidential fathers reported higher DBP than nonfathers, and married men were more likely to have high waist circumference than men dating an opposite-sex partner. Same-sex cohabitation was neither a risk factor nor a health resource for men. Although the sample sizes for same-sex couples are quite small compared with those for opposite-sex couples, this study provides initial insight that occupying a sexual minority status while partnered is associated with some health benefits and few or no health risks relative to those who are dating an opposite sex partner.

Patterns and determinants of hypertension in Botswana

AIM

This study examines the patterns and determinants of hypertension in Botswana.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In 2007, a cross-sectional survey of chronic non-communicable diseases and risk factors was conducted by the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation using the STEPS approach. STEP 1 was the collection of demographic data, STEP 2 was the physical measurement of the height, weight, waist and hips, and blood pressure; STEP 3 was biochemical measurements, which included the collection of blood samples. A nationally representative sample of 4003 individuals aged 25-64 years was included for analysis.

RESULTS

From a total sample of 4003 respondents, the national prevalence of hypertension was estimated to be 16.9 % (9.9 % for males versus 18.9 % for females). Logistic regression analysis indicated a positive association between gender and hypertension prevalence, with females (OR 1.9) more likely to be hypertensive. Hypertension increases significantly with age for both males and females. For women a high educational level and employment status were not associated with hypertension. Meanwhile, of all the behavioural risk factors, obesity was the only one with a significant association with hypertension.

CONCLUSION

The implications of this study are that a reduction in obesity through a balanced diet and increased physical activity will have far-reaching results in lowering hypertension. Botswana's health system should place greater emphasis on the detection of hypertension at early ages and create awareness programmes for both the general population and health personnel with respect to the detection, treatment and control of hypertension.

Relationship between alcohol-attributable disease and socioeconomic status, and the role of alcohol consumption in this relationship: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Studies show that alcohol consumption appears to have a disproportionate impact on people of low socioeconomic status. Further exploration of the relationship between alcohol consumption, socioeconomic status and the development of chronic alcohol-attributable diseases is therefore important to inform the development of effective public health programmes.

Methods

We used systematic review methodology to identify published studies of the association between socioeconomic factors and mortality and morbidity for alcohol-attributable conditions. To attempt to quantify differences in the impact of alcohol consumption for each condition, stratified by SES, we (i) investigated the relationship between SES and risk of mortality or morbidity for each alcohol-attributable condition, and (ii) where, feasible explored alcohol consumption as a mediating or interacting variable in this relationship.

Results

We identified differing relationships between a range of alcohol-attributable conditions and socioeconomic indicators. Pooled analyses showed that low, relative to high socioeconomic status, was associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer and stroke, and in individual studies, with hypertension and liver disease. Conversely, risk of female breast cancer tended to be associated with higher socioeconomic status. These findings were attenuated but held when adjusted for a number of known risk factors and other potential confounding factors. A key finding was the lack of studies that have explored the interaction between alcohol-attributable disease, socioeconomic status and alcohol use.

Conclusions

Despite some limitations to our review, we have described relationships between socioeconomic status and a range of alcohol-attributable conditions, and explored the mediating and interacting effects of alcohol consumption where feasible. However, further research is needed to better characterise the relationship between socioeconomic status alcohol consumption and alcohol-attributable disease risk so as to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms and pathways that influence the differential risk in harm between people of low and high socioeconomic status.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1720-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Antihypertensive medication initiation among young adults with regular primary care use

BACKGROUND

Young adults with hypertension have the lowest prevalence of controlled blood pressure compared to middle-aged and older adults. Uncontrolled hypertension, even among young adults, increases future cardiovascular event risk. However, antihypertensive medication initiation is poorly understood among young adults and may be an important intervention point for this group.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare rates and predictors of antihypertensive medication initiation between young adults and middle-aged and older adults with incident hypertension and regular primary care contact.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis

PARTICIPANTS

Adults ≥ 18 years old (n = 10,022) with incident hypertension and no prior antihypertensive prescription, who received primary care at a large, Midwestern, academic practice from 2008-2011.

MAIN MEASURES

The primary outcome was time from date of meeting hypertension criteria to antihypertensive medication initiation, or blood pressure normalization without medication. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the probability of antihypertensive medication initiation over time. Cox proportional-hazard models (HR; 95% CI) were fit to identify predictors of delays in medication initiation, with a subsequent subpopulation analysis for young adults (18-39 years old).

KEY RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 20 (±13) months, 34% of 18-39 year-olds with hypertension met the endpoint, compared to 44% of 40-59 year-olds and 56% of ≥ 60 year-olds. Adjusting for patient and provider factors, 18-39 year-olds had a 44% slower rate of medication initiation (HR 0.56; 0.47-0.67) than ≥ 60 year-olds. Among young adults, males, patients with mild hypertension, and White patients had a slower rate of medication initiation. Young adults with Medicaid and more clinic visits had faster rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Even with regular primary care contact and continued elevated blood pressure, young adults had slower rates of antihypertensive medication initiation than middle-aged and older adults. Interventions are needed to address multifactorial barriers contributing to poor hypertension control among young adults.

Analysing the socioeconomic determinants of hypertension in South Africa: a structural equation modelling approach

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological research has long observed a varying prevalence of hypertension across socioeconomic strata. However, patterns of association and underlying causal mechanisms are poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa. Using education and income as indicators, we investigated the extent to which socioeconomic status is linked to blood pressure in the first wave of the National Income Dynamics Study--a South African longitudinal study of more than 15,000 adults--and whether bio-behavioural risk factors mediate the association.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis, structural equation modelling was employed to estimate the effect of socioeconomic status on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and to assess the role of a set of bio-behavioural risk factors in explaining the observed relationships.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age, race and antihypertensive treatment, higher education and income were independently associated with higher diastolic blood pressure in men. In women higher education predicted lower values of both diastolic and systolic blood pressure while higher income predicted lower systolic blood pressure. In both genders, body mass index was a strong mediator of an adverse indirect effect of socioeconomic status on blood pressure. Together with physical exercise, alcohol use, smoking and resting heart rate, body mass index therefore contributed substantially to mediation of the observed relationships in men. By contrast, in women unmeasured factors played a greater role.

CONCLUSION

In countries undergoing epidemiological transition, effects of socioeconomic status on blood pressure may vary by gender. In women, factors other than those listed above may have substantial role in mediating the association and merit investigation.

Personality traits and circadian blood pressure patterns: a 7-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE

A nighttime dip in blood pressure is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We examined whether personality traits predict nighttime dipping blood pressure.

METHODS

A community-based sample of 2848 adults from Sardinia (Italy) completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and 7 years later were examined with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The primary analyses examined the associations of personality traits with continuous and categorical measures of mean arterial, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure nighttime dipping.

RESULTS

Agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with more nocturnal blood pressure dipping (β = .05 [p = .025] and β = .07 [p < .001], respectively) and lower systolic blood pressure at night (β = -.05 [p = .018] and β = -.03 [p = .072], respectively). Nondippers were particularly more impulsive (p = .009), less trusting (p = .004), and less self-disciplined (p = .001), but there was no significant association between nocturnal dipping blood pressure and trait anxiety (p = .78) or depression (p = .59). The associations were stronger when comparing extreme dippers (nighttime drop ≥ 20%) to reverse dippers (nighttime increase in blood pressure). Indeed, scoring 1 standard deviation higher on conscientiousness was associated with approximately 40% reduced risk of reverse dipping (odds ratio = 1.43, confidence interval = 1.08-1.91).

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence that reduced nighttime blood pressure dipping is associated with antagonism and impulsivity-related traits but not with measures of emotional vulnerability. The strongest associations were found with conscientiousness, a trait that may have a broad impact on cardiovascular health.

Associations of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors with urinary measures of cortisol and catecholamines in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

BACKGROUND

Stress hormones have been hypothesized to contribute to the social patterning of cardiovascular disease but evidence of differences in hormone levels across social groups is scant.

PURPOSE

To examine the associations of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors with urinary levels of cortisol and catecholamines and determine whether these associations are modified by race/ethnicity.

METHODS

Measures of cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine were obtained on 12-h overnight urine specimens from 942 White, African American and Hispanic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Linear regression was used to examine associations of income-wealth index, education, depression, anger, anxiety and chronic stress with the four hormones after adjustment for covariates.

RESULTS

Higher income-wealth index was associated with lower levels of urinary cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, medication use, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol use. Education and psychosocial factors were not associated with urinary stress hormone levels in the full sample. However, there was some evidence of effect modification by race: SES factors were more strongly inversely associated with cortisol in African Americans than in other groups and anger was inversely associated with catecholamines in African Americans but not in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower SES as measured by income-wealth index in a multi-ethnic sample is associated with higher levels of urinary cortisol and catecholamines. Heterogeneity in these associations by race/ethnicity warrants further exploration.

ETHNIC FEATURES OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE IN SMALL TOWN AND COUNTRYSIDE RESIDENTS OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: RESULTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY INTEREPID

Aim. To study the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in the population of Kyrgyz small towns and countryside and to analyse ethnic features of AH.

Material and methods. This cross-sectional epidemiologic study was performed as a part of the international study INTEREPID. A random sample of small town and countryside residents included 1774 people. The examination included a questionnaire survey, measurement of blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference, and laboratory tests. AH prevalence was age-standardised.

Results. In Kyrgyz small town and countryside residents aged 18–65 years, the prevalence of AH was 44% (33,2% in men and 46,7% in women). Among Kyrgyz participants, AH prevalence was significantly lower than in their Russian peers (36,8% vs. 46,2%, respectively). This difference was observed in women, while men did not demonstrate any marked ethnic differences in AH prevalence.

Conclusion. The results obtained suggest that AH prevalence in the Kyrgyz Republic is high (with a 40–50% increase over the past 20 years) and is characterised by marked gender and ethnic differences. Further research is required to identify whether race/ethnic group could be a risk factor for AH development. 

Racial/Ethnic Variability in Hypertension Prevalence and Risk Factors in National Health Interview Survey

Objective. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death attributed to cardiovascular diseases, and the prevalence varies across racial/ethnic groups, with African Americans being disproportionately affected. The underlying causes of these disparities are not fully understood despite volume of literature in this perspective. We aimed in this current study to examine ethnic/racial disparities in hypertension utilizing Hispanics as the base racial/ethnic group for comparison. Research Design and Methods. We utilized the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which is a large cross-sectional survey of the United States non-institutionalized residents to investigate the racial/ethnic disparities in hypertension after the adjustment of other socio-economic, demographic, and prognostic risk factors. The study participants were adults (n = 30,852). Data were analyzed using Chi square statistic, and logistic regression model. Results. There were statistically significant differences by race/ethnicity with respect to income, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, physical activities, body mass index, and age, P < 0.01, but not insurance coverage, P > 0.01. Hispanic ethnicity (18.9%) compared to either non-Hispanic white (27.7%) or non-Hispanic black (35.5%) was associated with the lowest prevalence of hypertension. Race/ethnicity was a single independent predictor of hypertension, with non-Hispanic black more likely to be hypertensive compare with Hispanic, prevalence odds ratio (POR), 2.38, 99% Confidence Interval (CI), 2.17–2.61 and non-Hispanic white, POR, 1.64, 99% CI, 1.52–1.77. After controlling for the confounding variables, the racial/ethnic differences in hypertension persisted. Conclusions. Racial/ethnic disparities in hypertension persisted after controlling for potential predictors of hypertension in NHIS, implying the inability of known hypertension risk factors to account for racial/ethnic variability in hypertension in US.

Longitudinal associations between health behaviors and mental health in low-income adults

Although there are established relationships between physical and mental health, few studies have explored the relationship between health behaviors and mental health over time. To explore rates of health-compromising behaviors (HCBs) and the longitudinal relationship between HCBs and depression, anxiety, and stress, five waves of data were collected over 1 year from 482 patients at an urban public health clinic (47 % female, 68 % African-American, M age = 28). Smoking (61 %), binge drinking (52 %), illegal drug use (53 %), unprotected sex with non-primary partners (55 %), and fast food consumption (71 %) were common, while consumption of fruits or vegetables (30 %) and breakfast (17 %) were rare. Cross-lagged models identified within-time associations between HCBs and depression/anxiety and stress. Additionally, depression/anxiety and stress predicted later HCBs, but HCBs did not predict later mental health. Results suggest that targeting mental health may be important to promoting improvements across multiple health behaviors.

Adolescent and young adult male health: a review

Adolescent and young adult male health receives little attention, despite the potential for positive effects on adult quality and length of life and reduction of health disparities and social inequalities. Pediatric providers, as the medical home for adolescents, are well positioned to address young men's health needs. This review has 2 primary objectives. The first is to review the literature on young men's health, focusing on morbidity and mortality in key areas of health and well-being. The second is to provide a clinically relevant review of the best practices in young men's health. This review covers male health issues related to health care access and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthy 2020 objectives for adolescents and young adults, focusing on the objectives for chronic illness, mortality, unintentional injury and violence, mental health and substance use, and reproductive and sexual health. We focus, in particular, on gender-specific issues, particularly in reproductive and sexual health. The review provides recommendations for the overall care of adolescent and young adult males.

Fat utilization and arterial hypertension in overweight/obese subjects

Background

The Respiratory Quotient is a parameter reflecting the utilization of the nutrients by a subject. It is associated with an high rate of subsequent weight gain and with the atherosclerosis. Subjects tending to burn less fat have an increased Respiratory Quotient. Aim of this study was to investigate on the relationship between the Respiratory Quotient and the cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study we enrolled 223 individuals of both sexes aged 45–75 ys that were weight stable, receiving a balanced diet, and not affected by debilitating disease or cardiovascular disease. The Respiratory Quotient was measured by Indirect Calorimetry. The measurement of the Blood Pressure was obtained by a mercury sphygmomanometer.

Results

We enrolled 133 female and 90 male. Systolic blood pressure only was positively correlated to the Respiratory Quotient in univariate and multivariate regression analysis (p=0,017). The prevalence of hypertension was significatively different between the quartiles of the Respiratory Quotient, with the highest prevalence in the IV quartile (p=0,024).

Conclusion

High value of the Respiratory Quotient, an index of nutrients utilization, is associated to an high prevalence of Hypertension. It is possible that in the subjects with high Respiratory Quotient and high body mass index, the activation of the renin angiotensin system, in concert to the reduction of the utilization of the endogenous fat stores, could increase the risk of hypertension.

Differences in hypertension by sexual orientation among U.S. young adults

Using a nationally representative data set, this study provides the first estimates of differences in hypertension by sexual orientation using objective measures of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Logistic regressions showed that there were no differences in hypertensive risk between mostly heterosexual/bisexual identified-respondents and heterosexual-identified respondents among both men and women. Gay men, however, are almost twice as likely (odds ratio = 1.92, p < .01) to be hypertensive compared to heterosexual men. The elevated risk is not explained by measures of minority stress, nor by cardiovascular disease risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, drug use, BMI, or physical activity. No differences in hypertension risk by sexual orientation were detected among female respondents. The results suggest that gay men face an excess risk for hypertension compared to heterosexual men that is not explained by differences in measured health behaviors.

Fatores associados à Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica autorreferida segundo VIGITEL nas 26 capitais brasileiras e no Distrito Federal em 2008

O objetivo deste artigo é estudar a associação entre estilo de vida e estado nutricional e prevalência de Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS) autorreferida, ponderada pelo sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL) e padronizada por idade e sexo, em indivíduos adultos das 26 capitais brasileiras e Distrito Federal em 2008. Calculou-se para cada capital a prevalência de HAS padronizada pelo método direto. Realizou-se regressão linear múltipla dos fatores de interesse em relação à prevalência de HAS ponderada e padronizada por sexo e idade. Após a padronização, a prevalência de HAS tendeu a aumentar nas capitais com população mais jovem e a diminuir naquelas com mais idosos. Nos modelos de regressão, mantiveram-se associados à prevalência de HAS, ponderada e padronizada, o excesso de peso e o consumo de frutas e hortaliças. Porém, a atividade física associou-se negativamente apenas à prevalência de HAS ponderada. Observou-se, com a prevalência ponderada e padronizada de HAS, associação positiva com excesso de peso e consumo regular de frutas e hortaliças e apenas com a prevalência ponderada observou-se associação inversa dessa morbidade com a prática de atividade física.

The association of educational attainment and SBP among older community-living adults: the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston Study

OBJECTIVE

Educational attainment is inversely associated with SBP level in young adulthood. This association has not been studied in an older cohort, and confounding and mediating factors are not well known.

METHODS

The authors hypothesized that higher education is associated with lower levels of SBP independent of many risk factors for hypertension. This prospective observational study included a sample of 764 older community-living participants in the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston Study.

RESULTS

Compared to participants with more than college education, regression analyses showed those with a high school education or less had a SBP value 6.33 mmHg higher [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.55-10.10], and those who had a college education had a SBP value 4.01 mmHg higher (95% CI: 0.77-7.25) independent of many hypothesized confounders and mediators.

DISCUSSION

Results of a path analysis confirmed that higher level of education was associated with lower SBP even after adjustment for hypothesized mediators. Although slightly attenuated by multivariable adjustment for hypertension risk factors, the significant inverse association between educational attainment and SBP was not entirely mediated by these risk factors. These findings indicate that education is inversely associated with SBP in a diverse cohort of community-living older adults, independent of many known or suspected risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to report the association between education and SBP in an older sample, representing a population at the highest risk for hypertension-related morbidity and mortality.

Explaining socioeconomic inequalities in childhood blood pressure and prehypertension: the ABCD study

Much remains to be understood about the socioeconomic inequalities in hypertension that continue to exist. We investigated the association of socioeconomic status with blood pressure and prehypertension in childhood. In a prospective cohort, 3024 five- to six-year-old children had blood pressure measurements and available information on potential explanatory factors, namely birth weight, gestational age, smoking during pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension, familial hypertension, maternal body mass index, breastfeeding duration, domestic tobacco exposure, and body mass index. The systolic and diastolic blood pressures of children from mid-educated women were 1.0-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 0.4-1.7) and 0.9-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 0.3-1.4), and the blood pressures of children with low-educated women were 2.2-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 1.4-3.0) and 1.7-mm Hg higher (95% CI, 1.1-2.4) compared with children with high-educated women. Children with mid- (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.18-1.92) or low-educated mothers (odds ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.35-2.42) were more likely to have prehypertension compared with children with high-educated mothers. Using path analyses, birth weight, breastfeeding duration, and body mass index were determined as having a role in the association of maternal education with offspring blood pressure and prehypertension. The socioeconomic gradient in hypertension appears to emerge from childhood as the results show a higher blood pressure and more prehypertension in children from lower socioeconomic status families. Socioeconomic disparities could be reduced by improving 3 factors in particular, namely birth weight, breastfeeding duration, and body mass index, but other factors might also play a role.

Independent association between age at natural menopause and hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus: Japan nurses' health study

AIM

Menopause is considered a cardiovascular risk factor (CRF), but age at menopause (AAM) varies considerably and could affect the risk among post-menopausal women. The aim of the study was to clarify whether AAM is associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypercholesterolemia, independent of chronological age, lifestyle and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), in a sizeable number of Japanese women.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted using the baseline survey of the ongoing large prospective Japan Nurses' Health Study. The prevalence of hypertension, DM, and hypercholesterolemia of pre-menopausal and three post-menopausal AAM groups (early: <45 years, intermediate: 45-53 years, late: >53 years) was compared among 22,426 women aged 40-59 years. Daily lifestyle such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity were included.

RESULTS

The estimated risk (odds ratio: OR) was significantly higher in post-menopausal women and linearly elevated according to the AAM groups, and the late AAM group was more likely to have hypertension, DM, or hypercholesterolemia; however, after adjustment for age, BMI (kg/m(2)), HRT and lifestyle, menopause and AAM showed a significant association with only hypercholesterolemia and the early AAM group had the highest OR (2.72 (1.93-3.82)). Menopause and AAM did not show any independent association with the risk of hypertension and DM in the fully adjusted model.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the post-menopausal women, early menopause increased the risk for hypercholesterolemia independently. AAM can be a useful screening tool to identify women at high risk for adverse post-menopausal lipid profiles in the Japanese.

Risk factors for non-communicable diseases in rural Uganda: a pilot surveillance project among diabetes patients at a referral hospital clinic

INTRODUCTION

Despite an increasing recognition of non- communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa, there is lack of well established surveillance systems for these diseases. In an effort to understand burden of NCDs in low-resource settings, the African Field Epidemiology Network launched a pilot project in 2009 to routinely capture patient data in the diabetes clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and, the gender- and age- specific distributions of common NCD risk factors among diabetic patients attending a referral hospital in rural Uganda.

METHODS

A relational Access database was designed to collect information on NCD risk factors. These included smoking, alcohol use, family history of diabetes, hypertension and body mass index. Univariate analyses were done and differences in proportions tested using chi-square P-values in STATA version 10.0.

RESULTS

A total of 1,383 patient records were analyzed, with 61% being female and mean age of 39.6 years (SD 15.8). About 24% had a family history of diabetes. Smoking and alcohol use were more prevalent among males (16.6% vs. 8.3%; p<0.0001) and (30.7 vs. 13%; p<0.0001) respectively. Overweight, obesity and hypertension were more prevalent in women (18.6% vs. 9.7%, 8.6% vs. 2.6%; p<0.0001, and 40.3% vs. 33%, p=0.018) respectively.

CONCLUSION

This pilot project shows that use of hospital-based data is a valuable initial step in setting up surveillance systems for NCDs in Uganda. Risk factors for NCDs were both age and gender-specific and predominantly related to lifestyle. This suggests the need to design gender-sensitive prevention interventions that target lifestyle modification in this setting.