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Impact of high-normal blood pressure on the risk of cardiovascular disease

R S Vasan1, M G Larson, E P Leip

  • 1Framingham Heart Study, Mass 01702, USA. vasan@fram.nhlbi.nih.gov

The New England Journal of Medicine
|January 17, 2002
PubMed

Insights

High-normal blood pressure significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk. This study highlights the need to explore interventions for lowering high-normal blood pressure to mitigate these risks.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in individuals with high-normal blood pressure (130-139/85-89 mm Hg).
  • Understanding this risk is crucial for preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between baseline blood pressure categories and incident CVD.
  • To quantify the absolute and relative risk of CVD in individuals with high-normal blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 6859 Framingham Heart Study participants initially free of hypertension and CVD.
  • Longitudinal follow-up to assess cardiovascular event rates based on baseline blood pressure.

Main Results:

  • Cardiovascular event rates increased with higher baseline blood pressure categories.
  • 10-year CVD incidence for high-normal blood pressure ranged from 4% (women, 35-64 yrs) to 25% (men, 65-90 yrs).
  • High-normal blood pressure conferred a 2.5-fold increased hazard ratio for CVD in women and 1.6-fold in men compared to optimal levels.

Conclusions:

  • High-normal blood pressure is linked to a substantially elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Further research is needed to determine if lowering high-normal blood pressure reduces CVD risk.
Abstract

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