Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

8-2025

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Dr. Brittney Dickey, PhD, MPH

Second Committee Member

Dr. Julie Petersen, PhD, MPH

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether total serum cholesterol (TSC) among middle-aged women is associated with subsequent hypertension while accounting for potential confounders.

Methods: A sample of 853 adults who identify as women, aged 50-60, from the Framingham Heart Study 1948-1972 cohort was selected for this study. Participants' TSC was measured at baseline, and they were followed for 24 years for cardiovascular disease outcomes or death. The outcome of interest in this study was hypertension. A multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between TSC and hypertension while controlling for age, glucose, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure.

Results: Compared to participants with normal (< 200mg/dL) TSC at baseline, participants with borderline high (200-239 mg/dL) and high (>239 mg/dL) TSC had higher odds of having hypertension during follow-up after controlling for age and systolic blood pressure (1.39 CI: 0.61-3.18 and 1.24 CI: 0.58-2.68, respectively); however, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study found no significant association between TSC at baseline and hypertension during the follow-up period among women aged 50-60.

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