Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: September 26, 2018
Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Stage 1 Hypertension Defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline
Yue Qi1, Xueyu Han1, Dong Zhao1
1Department of Epidemiology, Beijing An Zhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China; The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; and the Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
Insights
Stage 1 hypertension significantly increases cardiovascular risk in middle-aged Chinese adults, but not in older adults. This highlights the importance of managing early hypertension for preventing cardiovascular events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Stage 1 hypertension, defined as 130-139/80-89 mm Hg by the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, requires risk assessment in China.
- Understanding the cardiovascular risk associated with this blood pressure stratum is crucial for guideline adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relative risk and population-attributable risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) linked to stage 1 hypertension.
- To investigate age-specific differences in CVD risk associated with stage 1 hypertension.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 21,441 Chinese adults aged ≥35 years, free of CVD at baseline, was followed for up to 20 years.
- Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and population-attributable risk for CVD were calculated for stage 1 hypertension.
Main Results:
- Stage 1 hypertension affected 25.8% of the cohort. In adults aged 35-59 years, stage 1 hypertension showed HRs of 1.78 for CVD incidence, 1.77 for coronary heart disease, 1.79 for stroke, and 2.50 for CVD mortality compared to normal BP.
- Attributable risks for CVD events and deaths were 13.4% and 26.5% respectively in the 35-59 age group. No increased risk was observed in adults aged ≥60 years.
- Over 15 years, 65.0% of 35-59 year olds with stage 1 hypertension progressed to higher BP, facing a 3.01-fold increased CVD risk compared to those maintaining <130/<80 mm Hg.
Conclusions:
- The 2017 ACC/AHA stage 1 hypertension definition is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in younger and middle-aged Chinese adults.
- This association was not observed in Chinese adults aged 60 years and older.
- Findings support the consideration of stage 1 hypertension management in younger Chinese populations to mitigate long-term cardiovascular risk.
Background:
Systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg has been recently defined as stage 1 hypertension by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guideline. To what extent this BP stratum affects cardiovascular risk needs to be quantified in considering its adoption in China.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to assess the relative risk and population-attributable risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with stage 1 hypertension and age-specific differences.
Methods:
In total, 21,441 participants age ≥35 years and free of CVD at baseline were followed for up to 20 years in the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and population-attributable risk for CVD associated with stage 1 hypertension were calculated.
Results:
Participants with stage 1 hypertension accounted for 25.8% of the cohort. Among participants age 35 to 59 years, the HR comparing stage 1 hypertension to BP <120/<80 mm Hg for CVD incidence was 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50 to 2.11), coronary heart disease incidence was HR: 1.77 (95% CI: 1.33 to 2.36), stroke incidence was HR: 1.79 (95% CI: 1.45 to 2.22), and CVD mortality was HR: 2.50 (95% CI: 1.66 to 3.77). The proportions of cardiovascular deaths and events attributable to stage 1 hypertension were 26.5% and 13.4% among participants age 35 to 59 years, respectively. Among participants age ≥60 years, however, stage 1 hypertension was not related to increased risk compared with BP <120/<80 mm Hg, and population-attributable risk associated with this stratum was not found. Over a 15-year period, 65.0% of participants age 35 to 59 years with stage 1 hypertension experienced an increase in BP to 140/90 mm Hg or higher, and they had a 3.01-fold increased cardiovascular risk compared with those who maintained BP <130/<80 mm Hg.
Conclusions:
The effect of 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association stage 1 hypertension on cardiovascular risk is evidenced in young and middle-aged Chinese adults, but not in those age ≥60 years.
Related Concept Videos
Hypertension I: Introduction
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension V: Nursing Management
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

