•  
  •  
 

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(3): 898-903, 2019. Hypertension is highly prevalent and associated with non-communicable diseases and increased premature mortality risk. However, the impact of the new hypertension diagnostic criteria on the prevalence of hypertension diagnoses has yet to be examined among college students. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of hypertension between the JNC7 and the ACC/AHA hypertension diagnostic criteria among college students. The blood pressure of 5,945 college students was assessed, and chi-square tests for independence examined differences between JNC7 and ACC/AHA criteria. The mean age of participants was 21.30 ± 1.05 years, and the majority identified as men (60.5%). Men were found to have significantly higher systolic (p < .001, η2 = .10) and diastolic (p < .001, η2 = .04) blood pressure, so all analyses were separated by sex. Hypertension guideline changes resulted in significant changes in hypertension categorization of both men, χ2 = 7,178, p < .001, Фc = .816 and women, χ2 = 4,670, p < .001, Фc = .816. Under the JNC7 guidelines, 292 (8.2%) men and 67 (2.8%) women were hypertensive. Using the ACC/AHA guidelines, 1455 (40.5%) men and 521 (22.3%) women were hypertensive. Hypertension guideline changes resulted in a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension among college students, highlighting the potential demand for targeted prevention programs focused on fostering healthy lifestyle behaviors, i.e. physical activity and healthy eating, among students.

Download

Share

COinS