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Arterial hypertension and mortality in the elderly
Edoardo Casiglia1, Alberto Mazza, Valérie Tikhonoff
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy. edoardo.casiglia@unipd.it
American Journal of Hypertension
|November 21, 2002
Summary
Hypertension is a risk factor for stroke mortality, particularly in women under 80. High systolic and low diastolic blood pressure predict stroke risk, highlighting the prognostic role of pulse pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Hypertension is a prevalent condition with significant public health implications.
- Understanding its role in cardiovascular mortality across different demographics is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess hypertension as a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality at a population level.
- To investigate gender and age-specific risks associated with hypertension and cardiovascular death.
Main Methods:
- A 14-year prospective, population-based cohort study involving 5185 Italian adults (aged 22-95).
- Participants were categorized into normotensive and hypertensive groups based on blood pressure.
- Analysis included age-adjusted relative risks and age-matched comparisons to isolate hypertension's impact on mortality from stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and pulmonary embolism.
Main Results:
- A total of 846 cardiovascular deaths were recorded.
- Hypertension significantly predicted stroke mortality, but not mortality from coronary artery disease, heart failure, or pulmonary embolism.
- This association was significant only in women under 80 years of age.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension is a significant predictor of stroke mortality specifically in women under 80.
- Elevated systolic blood pressure and low diastolic blood pressure were identified as key predictors of stroke mortality.
- High pulse pressure demonstrates a prognostic value for stroke risk.