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Oral contraceptive use in girls, alcohol consumption in boys linked to hypertension in late adolescence
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Certain behavior practices by adolescents — notably, oral contraceptive use in girls and alcohol consumption in boys — have been linked to increased BP and CV risk in late adolescence, according to results of a large follow-up study conducted in Australia.
The data were compiled using the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study, which included 2,868 live births by 2,900 pregnant women from 1989 to 1992. The children were followed up at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 14 and 17 years, yielding 1,771 adolescents for this analysis. Participants were questioned about alcohol consumption, smoking habits, physical activity, diet and use of prescription medications, and systolic and diastolic BP was measured.
Among girls, oral contraceptive use was significantly associated with high BP. The 30% of girls in the study who used oral contraceptives had a 3.3-mm Hg higher BP than nonusers. BP was further increased in oral contraceptive users with a higher BMI.
Commenting on this finding, the researchers said, “Teenage girls taking oral contraceptives should be advised about regular BP monitoring.”
The systolic BP of boys in the study was 9 mm Hg higher than girls not taking oral contraceptives. This finding also increased in boys with higher BMI. The researchers also found a significant association between higher BP and alcohol consumption and urinary sodium. After adjustment for BMI, the link with alcohol and urinary sodium remained, according to a press release.
Alcohol consumption had no effect on BP in girls.
Using adult BP definition criteria, approximately 24% of the adolescents were prehypertensive or hypertensive, and 34% of overweight and 38% of obese adolescents were in these high BP categories.
“Adolescents need to be aware that a lifestyle which predisposes to fatness, high salt intake and alcohol consumption may lead to adverse health conditions in adult life,” Chi Le-Ha, of Royal Perth Hospital, Australia, said in a press release. “The effects are additive and already associated with hypertension.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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