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A longitudinal study of hypertension risk factors and their relation to cardiovascular disease: the Strong Heart

Wenyu Wang1, Elisa T Lee, Richard R Fabsitz

  • 1Center for American Indian Health Research, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. wenyu-wang@ouhsc.edu

Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|January 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension incidence is rising in American Indians aged 45-74. Key risk factors include prehypertension, diabetes, and albuminuria, all increasing cardiovascular disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Public health
  • Hypertension research

Background:

  • Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Understanding hypertension incidence and risk factors in specific populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • American Indians experience disproportionately high rates of CVD and hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate hypertension incidence in American Indians.
  • To identify risk factors for hypertension and their association with CVD.
  • To explore the relationship between hypertension status and CVD risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 4549 American Indian participants in the Strong Heart Study.
  • Defined hypertension based on blood pressure thresholds or antihypertensive medication use.
  • Employed generalized linear models, Cox proportional models, and mixed models for risk factor and CVD association analyses.

Main Results:

  • Prehypertension, macro/microalbuminuria, diabetes, overweight/obesity, and alcohol consumption were significant risk factors for developing hypertension.
  • Systolic blood pressure correlated positively with age, obesity, and albuminuria, and negatively with smoking.
  • Hypertensive participants, particularly those with uncontrolled hypertension, faced significantly higher risks of developing CVD compared to normotensive individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Age, diabetes, and albuminuria are independent risk factors for both hypertension and CVD in this population.
  • The risk of developing hypertension is increasing among American Indians aged 45-74.
  • Prehypertension significantly elevates the risk of both hypertension and subsequent CVD.

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