CHRONIC DISEASE IN FORMER COLLEGE STUDENTS. VIII. CHARACTERISTICS IN YOUTH PREDISPOSING TO HYPERTENSION IN LATER YEARS1

Abstract

Paffenbarger, R. S., Jr., M, C. Thome and A. L Wing (National Heart Institute and Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.) Chronic disease in former college students. VIII. Characteristics in youth predisposing to hypertension in later years. Amer. J. Epid., 1968, 88; 25–32.-Doctor—diagnosed high blood pressure was reported by 671 (8.7%) of 7, 685 men who had attended the University of Pennsylvania, 1931–1940, and completed a self-administered questionnaire in 1962. The mean age of study subjects was 19 years at college case-taking, 36 years at recognition of hypertension, and 46 years at questionnaire response. Examination of college medical and athletic records of these former students revealed six characteristics in youth precursive of hypertension in middle life; higher levels of blood pressure, faster pulse rate, greater ponderosity, history of parental hypertension, flrst-bom status, and less participation in sports or exercise. Correlations with hypertension were amplified when these precursors occurred in combinations.