Comparison of the prevalence and treatment of hypertension in two populations in the United States: Masters swimmers versus the NHANES population

Abstract

This research compares the prevalence of hypertension in a group of adult masters swimmers with an age and sex matched cohort from the 2008 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), used to represent the general population in the United States. Masters swimmer data were obtained from a one-time survey of all United States Masters Swimming (USMS) members. Both datasets included demographics, drug therapy, diseases and health status. Characteristics of swimming sessions as well as perceptions of impact of medications on exercise were also collected from the USMS respondents. Of 1346 completed surveys from USMS respondents, 15.8% self-identified as having hypertension while 36.2% participants in the NHANES survey suffered from hypertension (P < 0.001). The two groups were well matched for age and gender but the USMS group was primarily Caucasian, higher income, higher education, and reported higher health status. In the USMS group, not only was hypertension less prevalent but those who suffered from hypertension took fewer medications (P = 0.04) to manage their hypertension than in the NHANES group. Additionally, The USMS group suffering from hypertension considered themselves healthier (P < 0.001) than the NHANES group.

Keywords:

• hypertension
• swimmers
• aging
• antihypertensive medication