Binge drinking, blood pressure, and duration of physical activity as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in college students

Abstract

Inadequate physical activity (PA) and pre‐hypertension (PH) are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), however, their relationship with college binge drinking has not been closely examined. Data from the ongoing cross‐sectional College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey were collected between 2005–2012. Introductory nutrition students (n=5604) reported PA and drinking behavior via questionnaire; blood pressure (BP) was measured via automated cuff following standard protocol. The duration of daily PA was categorized as none, <30, 30–59, 60–89, or ≥90 min; BP was categorized as PH (≥120/85) or normotensive (<120/85). Fifty‐two percent of students reported binge drinking within the last two weeks. Male binge drinkers tended to be more likely than non‐binge drinkers to spend ≥90 min/day engaging in PA (37% vs 32%, p=.07). Female binge drinkers were more likely to spend 60–89 min/day engaging in PA vs non‐binge drinkers (36% vs 31%, p<.01). Male binge drinkers were more likely to have PH than non‐binge drinkers (59% vs 45%, p<.01); no difference in prevalence of PH among females were observed. Data suggests that binge drinking is associated with longer duration of PA in all students, and PH is more common among male students that report binge drinking as compared to those that report no binge drinking. Supported by NHAES grant NH00541.