High pulse pressure is associated with increased risk of stroke in Japanese: the JMS Cohort Study
Yosuke Baba1, Shizukiyo Ishikawa, Kazunori Kayaba
1Haga Red Cross Hospital, 2461 Dai-machi, Moka, Tochigi, Japan. ybabati@jichi.ac.jp
Background:
The relationship between pulse pressure (PP) and stroke has been described in populations outside Japan. Here, we investigated the relationship between PP and stroke incidence in Japan.
Methods:
Study subjects were 11,097 people (4315 men and 6782 women) in 12 rural areas of Japan enrolled in the Jichi Medical School Cohort Study, a population-based prospective study. The subjects were divided into quintiles of PP. Baseline data were obtained by questionnaire and health checkups between April 1992 and July 1995, and the incidence of all strokes and stroke subtypes was monitored.
Results:
A total of 412 strokes were observed during a mean follow-up period of 10.7 years. After adjusting for age, smoking status, drinking status, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, body mass index and diabetes mellitus, hazard ratios [HRs] in the second to fifth quintiles of PP for all strokes were 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-1.64), 1.53 (CI 1.02-2.28), 2.02 (CI 1.38-2.96) and 2.22 (CI 1.53-3.20) compared with the first quintile using Cox's proportional hazard model, respectively.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest high PP is at an increased risk of stroke.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Hypertension I: Introduction

