Hypertension in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta
Daniel Rinnström1, Mikael Dellborg2, Ulf Thilén3
1Heart Centre and Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Insights
Hypertension is common in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Risk factors include older age, male sex, higher BMI, and arm-leg blood pressure differences.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect.
- Adults with repaired CoA often develop long-term complications.
- Hypertension (HTN) is a significant concern in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hypertension in adults with repaired CoA.
- To identify factors associated with hypertension in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from a national register for congenital heart disease.
- Inclusion of 653 adults with repaired CoA (mean age 36.9 years).
- Multivariable modeling to assess associations with hypertension.
Main Results:
- 52.7% of patients had hypertension (diagnosed or BP ≥140/90mmHg).
- Independent risk factors for HTN included increasing age, male sex, and higher body mass index.
- Systolic arm-leg blood pressure gradient was significantly associated with HTN.
Conclusions:
- Hypertension is highly prevalent in adults with a history of repaired CoA.
- Age, male sex, BMI, and arm-leg blood pressure gradient are key associated factors.
- Even mild arm-leg blood pressure gradients may indicate increased HTN risk.
Aims:
In adults with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), hypertension (HTN) is a common long-term complication. We investigated the prevalence of HTN and analyzed factors associated with HTN.
Methods And Results:
In the national register for congenital heart disease, 653 adults with repaired CoA were identified (mean age 36.9±14.4years); 344 (52.7%) of them had HTN, defined as either an existing diagnosis or blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90mmHg at the clinical visit. In a multivariable model, age (years) (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, CI 1.05-1.10), sex (male) (OR 3.35, CI 1.98-5.68), and body mass index (kilograms per square meter) (OR 1.09, CI 1.03-1.16) were independently associated with having HTN, and so was systolic arm-leg BP gradient where an association with HTN was found at the ranges of (10, 20] and >20mmHg, in comparison to the interval ≤10mmHg (OR 3.58, CI 1.70-7.55, and OR 11.38, CI 4.03-32.11). This model remained valid when all patients who had increased BP (≥140/90mmHg) without having been diagnosed with HTN were excluded from the analyses.
Conclusions:
Hypertension is common in patients with previously repaired CoA and is associated with increasing age, male sex, and elevated body mass index. There is also an association with arm-leg BP gradient, starting at relatively low levels that are usually not considered for intervention.
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