CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Introduction: Current blood pressure (BP) classification is based on the recommendation of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) and the 2007 European Society of Hypertension- European society of Cardiology. The JNC-7 introduced a new concept, pre-hypertension, and recommended health-promoting life-style modifications for these individuals. Increase in left ventricular mass (LVM) is also recognized as an independent risk factor to development of cardiovascular events. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PH and its impact on LVM in a large cohort of young people to assess the relationship between these risk factors in an early stage of life. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was performed using data collected between 1993 and 2008 at La Plata School of Medicine. Pre-hypertension was defined according to JNC-7. LVM was evaluated in 448 students by echocardiogram study. The LVM indexed to body size (LVMI) was obtained divided by the allometric signal height 2.7 Results: 3847 students (1800 males) 21± 0.3 years of age were included. By applying the JNC-7 criteria 44% would be considered pre-hypertensive (PH), 8% hypertensive (H) and 49% normontensive (N). The prevalence of pre-hypertension was significantly higher in male (male: 58%; female 30% p < 0.01). LVM and LVMI were increased in PH in relation with N (LVM PH: 129.15 ± 2.4 g- N: 107.51 ± 1.71 g-p< 0.01; LVMI PH: 31.33 ± 0.54 g/m2.7- N: 28.39 ± 0.40 g/ m2.7- p< 0.01). PH male and PH female had also higher LVM and LVMI than respectively N. Conclusions Pre-hypertension is very common among Argentine young undergraduate students. In turn pre-hypertensive student exhibit LVM and LVMI greater than normal. As both of these factors are known to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk, early institution of healthful lifestyle changes in a large proportion of this age group is recommended.