Does Hypertension in Young Adults Lead to Heart Disease?

Blood pressure has a dose–response relationship to risk for cardiovascular events in people aged 18 to 45, according to a meta-analysis of 17 longitudinal studies.

Most studies on hypertension and risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have focused on older adults. In a meta-analysis of 17 longitudinal cohort studies with 4.5 million adults aged 18 to 45, investigators studied hypertension in young adults and incident CV events (coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, other CVD types, and CV deaths).

Blood pressure was stratified as optimal (<120/80 mm Hg), normal (systolic, 120–129 mm Hg; diastolic, 80–84 mm Hg), high normal (130–139 mm Hg and 85–89 mm Hg), grade 1 hypertension (140–159 mm Hg and 90–99 mm Hg), and grade 2 hypertension (≥160/≥100 mm Hg). At a mean follow-up of 14.7 years, young adults with normal blood pressure, compared to those with optimal blood pressure, had a 1.19-higher rel…

Reviewing Author

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNovoNordisk; HealthPals; Novartis; Amgen

EquityHealthPals; Carta

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association–Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Editorial BoardsCardiology and Therapy