Abstract P259: Social and Biological Correlates of Elevated Blood Pressure in Afro-Caribbean Youth: Effect of Individual Risk Factors and Risk Factor Clustering

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 2016-09, Vol.68 (suppl_1)
• Main Authors: Ferguson, Trevor S, Younger-Coleman, Novie O, Tulloch-Reid, Marshall K, Knight-Madden, Jennifer M, Samms-Vaughan, Maureen E, Ashley, Deanna E, Wilks, Rainford J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/hyp.68.suppl_1.p259

Abstract only Background: We aimed to estimate the relative risk for elevated blood pressure (BP ≥ 120/80 mmHg) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among Afro-Caribbean youth in Jamaica and to evaluate the association between clustering of risk factors and elevated BP. Methods: We analysed data from 898 young adults, 18-20 years old (409 males; 489 females) from the Jamaica 1986 Birth Cohort Study. BP was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer after the participant had been seated for 5 minutes. Anthropometric measurements were done and venous blood obtained to measure fasting glucose, lipids and insulin. Data on socioeconomic status (SES) were obtained via questionnaire. CVD risk factor status was defined using standard cut-points or the upper quintile of the distribution. Insulin resistance was estimated using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR). Relative risks were computed using odds ratios (OR) from logistic regression models. Results: Prevalence of elevated BP was 30% among males and 13% among females (p