Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
08:50

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

Plasma renin and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Framingham Heart Study

Nisha I Parikh1, Philimon Gona, Martin G Larson

  • 1Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, 73 Mount Wayte Avenue, Suite 2, Framingham, MA 01702-5803, USA.

European Heart Journal
|September 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Higher plasma renin levels are linked to increased short-term mortality risk, particularly in hypertensive individuals. This study found no association between plasma renin and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the community.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Conflicting previous study results highlight the need for further investigation into the relationship between plasma renin and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma renin levels and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality.
  • To examine these associations in a general population sample and a subset of hypertensive individuals.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 3408 participants (mean age 59 years, 53% women) with a hypertensive subset of 1413 individuals.
  • Plasma renin levels were measured, and participants were followed for a mean of 7.1 years for CVD incidence and mortality.
  • Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were calculated to assess the relationship between log-renin and outcomes, with time-dependent analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • Overall, higher plasma renin was significantly associated with increased mortality risk (HR per SD increment: 1.14 in the whole sample, 1.16 in hypertensives).
  • This association was primarily driven by short-term mortality, with significant links observed at 2.5 years but not at 5 years of follow-up.
  • No significant association was found between plasma renin levels and the incidence of cardiovascular disease in either the general population or the hypertensive subset.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated plasma renin is associated with increased short-term mortality risk, especially in hypertensive individuals.
  • Plasma renin levels do not appear to be a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease incidence in the community.
  • Further research may be warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the short-term mortality risk associated with higher plasma renin.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Mouse 5/6th Nephrectomy Model That Induces Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy07:52

A Mouse 5/6th Nephrectomy Model That Induces Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy

Published on: November 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...