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Blood pressure and mortality among Chinese patients with cardiovascular disease

Jing Chen1, Dongfeng Gu, Seamus P Whelton

  • 1Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. jchen@tulane.edu

Journal of Hypertension
|April 10, 2008
PubMed

Insights

High blood pressure (BP) significantly increases mortality risk in Chinese cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. Lowering BP is crucial for preventing premature deaths in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden globally, particularly in China.
  • Blood pressure (BP) is a critical modifiable risk factor for CVD and overall mortality.
  • Understanding the precise relationship between BP levels and mortality in existing CVD patients is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between blood pressure (BP) and mortality in a cohort of Chinese patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • To quantify the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality across different BP ranges in this high-risk population.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving 4195 patients aged 40 years and older with a history of CVD.
  • Baseline BP and covariable data collected in 1991, with follow-up evaluations conducted in 1999-2000.
  • Standardized protocols were used for data collection and BP measurements.

Main Results:

  • A significant, linear relationship was found between higher BP levels and increased risk of both CVD and all-cause mortality, even after adjusting for covariables.
  • Relative risks for CVD mortality increased progressively with higher systolic BP categories, with a notable elevation (2.66 times) for BP ≥ 180 mmHg compared to < 120 mmHg.
  • Systolic BP showed a stronger association with mortality than diastolic BP or pulse pressure; lowering BP could prevent a substantial proportion of CVD (55.5%) and all-cause (31.2%) mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated blood pressure is independently and positively associated with increased mortality risk in patients with a history of CVD.
  • Effective BP management is a vital strategy for reducing premature mortality in this vulnerable patient group.
  • These findings underscore the importance of rigorous BP control in secondary CVD prevention.
Abstract

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