The relationship between prehypertension/hypertension and race/ethnicity in college-aged students

This study determined the relationship between prehypertension/hypertension and race/ethnicity in college-aged students, and if the relationship existed when controlling for age, sex, and weight status. Male and female students (n=2,544) at California State University, Fullerton underwent fitness testing between years 2004--2009. Students filled out a questionnaire regarding demographics and were measured for blood pressure, stature, and body mass. Participants were stratified into four categories based on their body mass index (BMI), underweight (BMI=Below 18.4 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI=18.5--24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI=25--29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI=Above 30 kg/m2), and into two categories, normotension (less than 120/80 mmHg) and prehypertension/hypertension (greater than or equal to 120/80 mmHg) based on their blood pressure. A chi-square test showed that ethnicity was not significantly associated (p=0.762) to blood pressure status. The logistic regression model showed that overweight individuals had two times the odds of having prehypertension/hypertension than underweight individuals. In addition, obese individuals had five times the odds of having prehypertension/hypertension compared to underweight individuals. Males had six times the odds of having prehypertension/hypertension compared to females. In college students, blood pressure status does not appear to be related to race/ethnicity but to weight status and sex.