The mean age of participants was 38.61 ± 12.14 years and 56.6% of them were female. More than one third of the studied participants had
pre-hypertension (35.4%) with significantly higher prevalence in males compared to females (46.5% vs. 26.9%; χ2 = 190.7, P < 0.001). Age, waist circumference (WC), and serum
triglyceride concentrations (TG) were directly associated with
pre-hypertension in both men (β = 0.16, β = 0.25, and β = 0.11, respectively) and women (β = 0.16, β = 0.21 and β = 0.09, respectively). Physical activity, only in men (β = 0.07), and marital status only, in women (β = -0.06), were also directly associated with
pre-hypertension. Both healthy and poor dietary patterns showed indirect associations with
pre-hypertension in both genders via WC and TG. Higher age and lower education in both genders, being married only in men, and unemployed status only in women, were positively associated with
pre-hypertension via behavioral and cardio-metabolic factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Level of TG and WC in both genders are direct modifiable associated factors of
pre-hypertension. These findings could be considered in designing future health promotion programs aimed at preventing
high blood pressure and its consequences among Tehranian adults.