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High-normal blood pressure is associated with a cluster of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors: a

Simona Bo1, Roberto Gambino, Luigi Gentile

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. sbo@molinette.piemonte.it

Journal of Hypertension
|January 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

High-normal blood pressure is linked to increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks, even in healthy individuals. Early signs of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress are present, warranting further research into blood pressure reduction benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Metabolic Health
  • Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Background:

  • Population-based studies indicate high-normal blood pressure often coexists with other cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Previous research has sporadically reported increased inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and reduced adiponectin in individuals with high-normal blood pressure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare blood pressure categories with cardiovascular risk factors in an adult population.
  • To evaluate the relationship between specific biomarkers and blood pressure categories in healthy, lean individuals, excluding obesity's impact.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of an adult population-based cohort (n=1658) comparing blood pressure categories and risk factors.
  • Subgroup analysis (n=107) of healthy lean individuals to assess biomarkers including C-reactive protein, nitrotyrosine, adiponectin, and adhesion molecules in relation to blood pressure.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with high-normal blood pressure showed higher prevalence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, along with elevated glucose, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels compared to the optimal blood pressure group.
  • In healthy lean individuals, high-normal blood pressure was associated with lower adiponectin and total antioxidant status.
  • Biomarkers indicative of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, such as nitrotyrosine, E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1, were significantly higher in the high-normal blood pressure group.

Conclusions:

  • High-normal blood pressure is associated with a greater prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.
  • Even in healthy individuals, high-normal blood pressure indicates reduced adiponectin, early endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.
  • Further investigation is required to ascertain the potential benefits of blood pressure reduction in this population.
Abstract

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