Article

The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence of
prehypertension and high blood pressure in adults with spina bifida (SB) and to
examine relationships among blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk factors,
and SB-specific factors. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective
analysis of adults with SB. SB-specific factors and cardiovascular disease risk
factors were compared among subjects with high blood pressure, subjects with
blood pressure in the prehypertensive range, and normotensive subjects using the
chi, Kruskal-Wallis, or Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Of 225 subjects, the
occurrence of prehypertension and high blood pressure was 27% (n = 22) and 27% (n
= 22) for ages 18-29 yrs, 35% (n = 26) and 41% (n = 30) for ages 30-39 yrs, 18%
(n = 8) and 66% (n = 29) for ages 40-49 yrs, and 21% (n = 5) and 67% (n = 16) for
50 yrs or older, respectively. Of the subjects with high blood pressure, 56% were
men, 14% had obstructive sleep apnea, 14% had diabetes, 19% had renal
dysfunction, 38% used tobacco, 16% had hydronephrosis, and 71% had a shunt. The
groups differed significantly with respect to diabetes (P = 0.004), bladder
procedures (P = 0.001), and renal dysfunction (P < 0.001), with higher
proportions of subjects with high blood pressure having these comorbidities.
CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half of the subjects were considered normotensive. A
greater proportion of young adults with SB appear to have high blood pressure
compared with the general United States population. Because elevated blood
pressure is an independent, modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular disease,
these findings support early screening and intervention for elevated blood
pressure in individuals with SB.

Langue : ANGLAIS