Plasma renin activity and ischemic heart disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hypertension Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous studies suggested a link between high plasma renin activity and myocardial infarction in hypertensive patients.
• The renin-sodium profile is a measure of plasma renin activity.
• This study investigated the relationship between plasma renin activity and ischemic heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between plasma renin activity and ischemic heart disease.
• To determine if plasma renin activity is a risk factor for myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 803 white men aged 40-64 was studied.
• Plasma renin activity and cardiovascular risk factors were measured between 1972-1978.
• Follow-up for coronary events (myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death) continued until 1991.

Main Results:

• Higher systolic blood pressure was independently associated with coronary end points (RR 1.47 per 1 SD increase).
• No significant association was found between plasma renin activity and coronary end points (RR 1.04 per 1 SD increase).
• In hypertensive men, no increased risk of coronary events was observed in the highest versus lowest third of plasma renin activity (RR 1.26).

Conclusions:

• Plasma renin activity is not associated with myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death in this cohort.
• The findings suggest that the association observed in previous studies may not apply to normotensive men.
• Systolic blood pressure remains a key modifiable risk factor for ischemic heart disease.