Arterial hypertension in male conscripts

Aim

To study the features of arterial hypertension (AH) in males age 18 to 27 years.

Material and methods

One hundred forty seven male conscripts aged 18 to 27 years were enrolled in our study. All participants underwent blood pressure (BP) measurement, ambulatory BP monitoring, echocardiography, and treadmill stress test.

Results

Office BP was <140/90 mm Hg in 35 (23.8%) of 147 conscripts and ≥140/90 mm Hg in 112 (76.2%). Among conscripts with normal office BP, 26 (74.3%) males had stable normotension, whereas 9 (25.7%) males presented with masked AH. Sixteen (14.3%) of 112 conscripts with elevated office BP had white coat hypertenstion and 96 (85.7%) had genuine AH. Ninety three (98.1%) of 96 conscripts with AH did not regularly measure BP. Most patients with white coat hypertension (81.2%) showed hypertensive reaction during stress testing that indicated an unfavorable adaptation and can be worsened during military service, associated with physical and psycho-emotional stress. Body mass index was frequently elevated in young males and directly correlated with BP.

Conclusion

AH in male conscripts has certain features that should be taken into account, that is, high prevalence of masked AH in males with high normal office BP, high probalitity of white coat hypertension in young males with grade 1 and 2 AH, isolated increase in systolic BP.

Key words

Arterial hypertension, conscirpts, males.