[Demographic factors and comorbidity associated to prehypertension]

prehypertension is the category established in JNC-7, which designates the individuals that present diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mm Hg, and it is associated to high rates of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of the study was to identify prevalence rates and their correlation with sociodemographic factors and comorbidity in a sample of a population of Veracruz, Mexico.

a cross-sectional and representative survey was chosen by means of probability sampling. Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and anthropometric characteristics were assessed. Odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were obtained.

the prehypertension prevalence found was 33.8 %, with an average age of 40.9 ± 14.2 years in prehypertensive subjects, and 50.6 ± 12.7 in hypertension subjects (p < 0.05). In relation with prehypertension, males presented a 1.48 (1.18-1.86) OR. Also, those who had more than 40 years had an OR of 1.9 (1.51-2.38); the ones with basic schooling, an OR of 1.73 (1.38-2.17); subjects with hyperglycemia, OR 3.0 (1.5-3.75); with overweight, OR 1.41 (1.01-1.68); and those with other comorbidities an OR of 1.61 (1.09-2.36).

a high prevalence of prehypertension was found in the sample, and it was associated to male gender subjects, aged above 40 years, with basic schooling and relevant comorbidities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.