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Fatality of acute coronary events in relation to hypertension and low-grade inflammation: a population-based cohort

G Engström1, B Hedblad, L Janzon

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Gunnar.Engstrom@med.lu.se

Journal of Human Hypertension
|May 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

High inflammation markers increase coronary event incidence and fatality, especially in men with normal blood pressure. Hypertension also elevates coronary event risk and fatality, independent of inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Inflammation Research
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Hypertension is linked to higher mortality after acute coronary events.
  • The role of inflammation in modifying the hypertension-cardiovascular event relationship is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how inflammation and hypertension affect coronary event incidence and case-fatality.
  • To determine if inflammation modifies the association between hypertension and coronary event outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based study of 6071 healthy men with a 19-year follow-up.
  • Measured blood pressure and five inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins (ISPs).
  • Assessed incidence of first coronary events and case-fatality.

Main Results:

  • High ISPs increased coronary event incidence across all blood pressure levels.
  • High ISPs were associated with the highest case-fatality rates.
  • The impact of ISPs on case-fatality was significant in normal BP individuals but not in hypertensive individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Both hypertension and inflammation independently increase case-fatality after acute coronary events.
  • High inflammation markers contribute to coronary event incidence regardless of blood pressure.
  • Inflammation's effect on case-fatality is most pronounced in individuals with normal blood pressure.

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