The independent association of prior incarceration with incident hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia was examined in data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study; a cohort of 4350 adults aged 18–30 years at enrolment in 1985–1986. The study also explored the association of incarceration with left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography and with barriers to health care access. A total of 288 participants (7%) reported previous incarceration. Incident hypertension in young adulthood was more common among former inmates than in those without incarceration history (12% vs 7%; OR 1.7); the association persisted after adjusting for smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use, and family income (adjusted OR 1.6). Incarceration was significantly associated with incident hypertension in those groups with the highest prevalence of prior incarceration, i.e., black men (adjusted OR 1.9) and less-educated participants (adjusted OR 4.0). Former inmates were more likely to have left ventricular hypertrophy (adjusted OR 2.7) and to report no regular source for medical care (adjusted OR 2.5).
