Young Adults With Prehypertension Are More Likely to Have Coronary Artery Calcium and Atherosclerosis Later in Life High blood pressure in middle-aged and older adults is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Less is known about the risks of high blood pressure in young adults. Researchers analyzed blood pressure measurements of 3560 adults 18 to 30 years of age from seven examinations over the course of 20 years. Nearly one fifth (635) of the study participants developed prehypertension (systolic blood pressure 120-139 mmHG or diastolic blood pressure 80-89 mmHg) before the age of 35. Although these blood pressure levels are below the cutoff for hypertension, young adults with prehypertension were more likely than those with lower blood pressure to have calcium in their coronary arteries, a condition that is linked to future heart attacks and strokes. Prehypertension was most common in patients who were male, overweight, black, and of low socioeconomic status.
