中国正常高值血压人群的心血管病发病危险

目的研究在多省市35～64岁人群中正常高值血压的分布情况,分析正常高值血压[SBP130～139mmHg及(或)DBP85～89mmHg]与心血管病(CVD)发病危险的关系。方法在中国多省市前瞻性队列研究数据基础上,对1992年建立的11省市35～64岁队列人群共30378人的基线血压水平和1992-2003年期间发生的CVD[包括冠心病(CHD)和脑卒中]事件的关系进行分析。结果1)我国35～64岁人群中正常高值血压者占32.1%,与高血压的比例为1.2:1.0。2)多因素分析显示:以正常血压为对照,正常高值血压增加脑卒中发病危险56%(RR=1.559;95%CI1.163,2.089);增加CHD发病危险44%(RR=1.441;95%CI0.996,2.086);增加总的CVD发病危险52%(RR=1.522,95%CI1.206,1.919)。正常高值血压对出血性卒中的作用(RR=2.082,95%CI1.116,3.885)大于对缺血性卒中的作用(RR=1.474;95%CI1.050,2.069)。3)在总的CVD事件中,14.4%归因于正常高值血压;其中12.4%的CHD事件和15.2%的脑卒中事件归因于正常高值血压。结论我国35～64岁人群中正常高值血压比例很高。正常高值血压增加人群脑卒中和CVD发病危险。对正常高值血压人群采用生活方式干预具有重要的公共健康意义。     

心房颤动患者复发性缺血性卒中的危险因素

目的 探讨心房颤动患者复发性缺血性卒中的危险因素.方法 回顾性纳入合并心房颤动的缺血性卒中患者,收集其人口统计学和临床资料,对首发卒中组与复发性卒中组的卒中相关危险因素进行比较,采用多变量logistic回归分析确定心房颤动患者复发性缺血性卒中的独立危险因素.结果 共纳入504例合并心房颤动的缺血性卒中患者,其中男性245例(48.6%),女性259例(51.4%),平均年龄(76.67±8.26)岁;首发卒中组314例(62.3%),复发性卒中组190例(37.7%).复发卒中组高血压(78.9%对69.4%;χ2=5.446,P=0.020)、糖尿病(38.9%对26.8%;χ2=8.181,P=0.004)和年龄>75岁(68.9%对60.2%;χ2=3.915,P=0.048)的患者比例以及基线收缩压[(153.30±26.02)mmHg对(148.13±26.40)mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa;t=-2.141,P=0.033]均显著高于首发卒中组.多变量logistic回归分析表明,高血压[优势比(odds ratio, OR)1.734,95%可信区间(confidence interval, CI)1.121~2.682;P=0.013]、糖尿病(OR 1.757,95% CI 1.188~2.597;P=0.005)、年龄>75岁(OR 1.680,95% CI 1.132~2.494;P=0.010)是心房颤动患者复发性缺血性卒中的独立危险因素.结论 高血压、糖尿病和年龄>75岁是心房颤动患者复发缺血性卒中的独立危险因素.     

Hepatitis B viral factors in HBeAg-negative carriers with persistently normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels

Chronic hepatitis B patients with high-normal serum ALT (levels of 0.5-1x upper limit of normal) are still at risk of liver disease progression. We thus investigated the correlation between serum ALT level and hepatitis B viral factors in HBeAg-negative carriers with persistently normal serum ALT level (PNALT). Baseline clinical and virological features of 414 HBeAg-negative carriers, including 176 (42.5%) with low-normal ALT (levels of less than 0.5x upper limit of normal) and 238 (57.5%) with high-normal ALT, were compared. Compared with HBV carriers with low-normal ALT, those with high-normal ALT were older (41 vs. 37 years, P<0.001) and had a greater frequency of serum HBV DNA level>10(4) copies/ml (63.4% vs. 47.5%, P<0.001) as well as a higher prevalence of basal core promoter T1762/A1764 mutant (36.5% vs. 24.2%, P=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that factors associated with a high-normal serum ALT level included male sex [odds ratio (OR), 1.82; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-3.01, P=0.019], increasing age (OR, <30 years: 1, reference; 30-39 years: 2.43, 95% CI, 1.18-5.03, P=0.016; 40-49 years: 4.22, 95% CI, 1.99-8.93, P<0.001; >or=50 years: 4.06, 95% CI, 1.69-9.78, P=0.002) and serum HBV DNA level>10(4) copies/ml (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.07-3.13, P=0.027). CONCLUSION: HBeAg-negative patients with persistently normal ALT are not a homogenous group, and those with high-normal ALT share some of the characteristics that have been associated with adverse long-term outcomes.     

Increased Levels of Systolic Blood Pressure Within the Normal Range Are Associated With Significantly Elevated Risks of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

A positive association between hypertension or high-normal blood pressure (BP) and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is well-known; however, no data have been generated exploring the risk of NAFLD within the normal range of BP. We aimed to assess the association between normal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and risk of NAFLD.A total of 27,769 subjects from 2 separate medical centers were included. Subjects were divided into 4 groups (G1 to G4) by SBP levels: G1: 90–99 mmHg, G2: 100–109 mmHg, G3: 110–119 mmHg, and G4: 120–129 mmHg. The prevalence, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD were calculated across each group, using the G1 as reference.Higher SBP was observed in subjects with NAFLD than those without NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD in a cross-sectional population from G1 to G4 was 6.1%, 13.6%, 19.6%, and 25.8%, respectively. The HRs for NAFLD in the longitudinal population were 2.17 (95% CI 1.60–2.93), 3.87 (95% CI 2.89–5.16), 5.81 (95% CI 4.32–7.81) for G2, G3, and G4, respectively. After adjusting for known confounding variables, HRs of G2 to G4 were 1.44 (95% CI 1.06–1.96), 1.94 (95% CI 1.44–2.61), 2.38 (95% CI 1.75–3.23), respectively.This is the first study to demonstrate that increased levels of SBP within the normal range are associated with significantly elevated risks of NAFLD, independent of other confounding factors.     

Reductions in the risks of recurrent stroke in patients with and without diabetes: the PROGRESS Trial

BACKGROUND: Analyses of the risks of stroke were conducted for subjects with and without diabetes, participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a perindopril-based blood pressure lowering regimen in 6105 people with prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), followed for a median of 3.9 years. FINDINGS: Seven hundred and sixty-one patients had diabetes at baseline. Diabetes increased the risk of recurrent stroke by 35% (95% CI 10-65%) principally through an effect on ischaemic stroke (1.53, 95% CI 1.23-1.90). Active treatment reduced blood pressure by 9.5/4.6 mmHg in patients with diabetes and by 8.9/3.9 mmHg in patients without diabetes. The proportional risk reductions achieved for stroke in patients with diabetes, 38% (95% CI 8-58%), and patients without diabetes, 28% (95% CI 16-39%), were not significantly different (p homogeneity = 0.5). The absolute reduction in the risk of recurrent stroke in the patients with diabetes was equivalent to one stroke avoided among every 16 (95% CI 9-111) patients treated for 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is an important risk factor for stroke in patients with established cerebrovascular disease. Treatment with the ACE inhibitor perindopril with discretionary use of the diuretic indapamide produced reductions in the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with diabetes that were at least as great as those achieved in patients without diabetes.     

U-shaped relationship between mortality and admission blood pressure in patients with acute stroke

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on admission and early or late mortality in patients with acute stroke. Design. Prospective study of hospitalized first‐ever stroke patients over 8 years. Setting. Stroke unit and medical wards in a University hospital. Subjects. A total of 1121 patients admitted within 24 h from stroke onset and followed up for 12 months. Main outcome measures. Mortality at 1 and 12 months after stroke in relation to admission SBP and DBP. Results. Early and late mortality in patients with acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke in relation to admission SBP and DBP followed a ‘U‐curve pattern’. After adjusting for known outcome predictors, the relative risk of 1‐month and 1‐year mortality associated with a 10‐mmHg SBP increase above 130 mmHg (U‐point of the curve) increased by 10.2% (95% CI: 4.2–16.6%) and 7.2% (95% CI: 2.2–12.3%), respectively. For every 10 mmHg SBP decrease, below the U‐point, the relative risk of 1‐month and 1‐year mortality rose by 28.2% (95% CI: 8.6–51.3%) and 17.5% (95% CI: 3.1–34.0%), respectively. Low admission SBP‐values were associated with heart failure (P < 0.001) and coronary artery disease (P = 0.006), whilst high values were associated with history of hypertension (P < 0.001) and lacunar stroke (P < 0.001). Death due to cerebral oedema was significantly (P = 0.005) more frequent in patients with high admission SBP‐values, whereas death due to cardiovascular disease was more frequent (P = 0.004) in patients with low admission SBP‐values. Conclusion. Acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke patients with high and low admission BP‐values have a higher early and late mortality. Coincidence of heart disease is associated with low initial BP‐values. Death due to neurological damage from brain oedema is associated with high initial BP‐values.     

Relation of baseline systolic blood pressure and long-term outcomes in ambulatory patients with chronic mild to moderate heart failure

We studied the impact of baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) on outcomes in patients with mild to moderate chronic systolic and diastolic heart failure (HF) in the Digitalis Investigation Group trial using a propensity-matched design. Of 7,788 patients, 7,785 had baseline SBP data and 3,538 had SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg. Propensity scores for SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg, calculated for each of the 7,785 patients, were used to assemble a matched cohort of 3,738 patients with SBP ≤ 120 and >120 mm Hg who were well-balanced in 32 baseline characteristics. All-cause mortality occurred in 35% and 32% of matched patients with SBPs ≤ 120 and >120 mm Hg respectively, during 5 years of follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] when SBP ≤ 120 was compared to >120 mm Hg 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99 to 1.23, p = 0.088). HRs for cardiovascular and HF mortalities associated with SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg were 1.15 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.30, p = 0.031) and 1.30 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.57, p = 0.006). Cardiovascular hospitalization occurred in 53% and 49% of matched patients with SBPs ≤ 120 and > 120 mm Hg, respectively (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.24, p = 0.008). HRs for all-cause and HF hospitalizations associated with SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg were 1.10 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.194, p = 0.017) and 1.21 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.36, p = 0.002). In conclusion, in patients with mild to moderate long-term systolic and diastolic HF, baseline SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg was associated with increased cardiovascular and HF mortalities and all-cause, cardiovascular, and HF hospitalizations that was independent of other baseline characteristics.     

Effects of blood pressure levels on case fatality after acute stroke

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the relationship between admission blood pressure (BP) and early prognosis in patients with acute stroke in a single cohort. DESIGN: The subjects comprised 1004 cases of brain infarction and 1097 cases of brain hemorrhage, who were admitted to hospitals on the day of stroke onset. Death within 30 days after onset was evaluated in relation to admission BP levels. RESULTS: In brain infarction, a U-shaped relationship was found between BP levels and mortality rate, with a nadir at systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 150-169 mmHg and at diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 100-110 mmHg. After adjustments for age and sex, the highest relative risks (RR) was observed in the lowest BP levels compared with nadir groups, and were 2.69 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43-5.07] in SBP and 3.49 (95% CI, 1.58-7.74) in DBP. In subjects with previous hypertension, the relationship between prognosis and SBP level shifted significantly toward higher pressure by about 10 mmHg compared with those without previous hypertension. In subjects with brain hemorrhage, the relationship between BP levels and mortality rate showed a J-shape in SBP and a U-shape in DBP. Highest BP levels had the poorest prognoses (>/= 230 mmHg in SBP, RR = 4.13, 95% CI = 2.45-6.94; >/= 120 mmHg in DBP, RR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.11-3.04). CONCLUSION: Lower and higher BP after brain infarction and higher BP after brain hemorrhage were predictors for poor early prognosis. In subjects with brain infarction, patients with previous hypertension had better outcomes at higher admission BP level than did normotensive patients.     

Determining the Optimal Systolic Blood Pressure for Hypertensive Patients: A Network Meta-analysis

Background

There is clinical trial evidence that lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) to < 120 mm Hg is beneficial, and this has influenced the latest American guideline on hypertension. We therefore used network meta-analysis to study the association between SBP and cardiovascular outcomes.

Influence of age,sex and blood pressure on the principal endpoints of the Nordic Diltiazem (NORDIL) Study

BACKGROUND : The aim of the Nordic Diltiazem (NORDIL) Study was to compare patients with essential hypertension receiving calcium-antagonist-based treatment with diltiazem and similar patients receiving conventional diuretic/beta-blocker-based treatment, with respect to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE : To assess the influence of age, sex, severity of hypertension and heart rate on treatment effects, in a sub-analysis. METHODS : The NORDIL study was prospective, randomized, open and endpoint-blinded. It enrolled, at health centres in Norway and Sweden, 10 881 patients aged 50-74 years who had diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 100 mmHg or more. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and DBP were decreased by 20.3/18.7 mmHg in the diltiazem group and by 23.3/18.7 mmHg in the diuretic/beta-blocker group - a significant difference in SBP (P < 0.001). RESULTS : The incidence of the primary endpoint - a composite of cardiovascular death, cerebral stroke and myocardial infarction - was similar for the two treatments. Fatal and non-fatal stroke occurred in 159 patients in the diltiazem group and in 196 patients in the conventional treatment group [relative risk (RR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 0.99; P = 0.040], whereas there was a non-significant inverse tendency with respect to all myocardial infarction. There were significantly fewer cerebral strokes in patients receiving diltiazem in the subgroups with baseline SBP > 170 mmHg (n = 5420, RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.98; P = 0.032), DBP >/= 105 mmHg (n = 5881, RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.97; P = 0.030) and pulse pressure >/= 66 mmHg (n = 5461, RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.99, P = 0.041), and more myocardial infarctions in those with heart rate less than 74 beats/min (n = 5303, RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.87; P = 0.040). However, the tendencies for fewer strokes and greater incidence of myocardial infarction were present across subgroups when results were analysed for age, sex, severity of hypertension and heart rate, and treatment-subgroup interaction analyses were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS : Compared with a conventional diuretic/beta-blocker-based antihypertensive regimen, there were additional 25% reductions in stroke in the diltiazem-treated patients with blood pressure or pulse pressure greater than the medians, and an increase in myocardial infarction in those with heart rate less than the median. Such findings may be attributable to chance, but the consistency of, in particular, the stroke findings may also suggest an ability of diltiazem, beyond conventional treatment, to prevent cerebral stroke in hypertensive patients with the greatest cardiovascular risk.     

Relationship between outcome and baseline blood pressure and other haemodynamic measures in acute ischaemic stroke: data from the TAIST trial

BACKGROUND: A poor outcome after stroke is associated independently with high blood pressure during the acute phase; however, relationships with other haemodynamic measures [heart rate (HR), pulse pressure (PP), rate-pressure product (RPP)] remain less clear. METHODS: The Tinzaparin in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Trial is a randomised, controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of tinzaparin versus aspirin in 1484 patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HR measurements taken immediately prior to randomization were averaged, and the mid-blood pressure (MBP), PP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure index, and RPP were calculated. The relationship between these haemodynamic measures and functional outcome (death or dependency, modified Rankin Scale > 2) and early recurrent stroke, were studied with adjustment for baseline prognostic factors and treatment group. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) refer to a change in haemodynamic measure by 10 points. RESULTS: A poor functional outcome was associated with SBP (adjusted OR; 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03-1.21), HR (adjusted OR; 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.31), MBP (adjusted OR; 1.15, 95% CI, 1.03-1.29), PP (adjusted OR; 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.26), MAP (adjusted OR; 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and RPP (adjusted OR; 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02). Early recurrent stroke was associated with SBP, DBP, MBP and MAP. CONCLUSIONS: A poor outcome is independently associated with elevations in blood pressure, HR and their derived haemodynamic variables, including PP and the RPP. Agents that modify these measures may improve functional outcome after stroke.     

Cardiovascular outcome in relation to progression to hypertension in the Copenhagen MONICA cohort

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of the risk associated with high-normal blood pressure (BP) determined BP category in a cross-sectional fashion. METHODS: In 1982-1984, we measured BP in a random sample of 2357 Danes without previous cardiovascular complications, aged 30 to 60 years. We determined progression from optimal (<120/80 mm Hg), normal (120 to 129/80 to 84 mm Hg), and high-normal (130 to 139/85 to 89 mm Hg) BP to hypertension (>or=140/90 mm Hg or start of antihypertensive treatment) by follow-up until 1993-1994. We studied the prognostic significance of progression by subsequent follow-up until 2003. RESULTS: During 10.9 years (median), the crude progression rates to hypertension from optimal, normal, and high-normal BP were 10.4%, 37.3%, and 58.1%, respectively. During an additional 9.4 years (median), 218 first cardiovascular end points (cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke, and nonfatal coronary heart disease) occurred. With sustained optimal or normal BP as reference, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios were similar (P > .60) for progression to high-normal BP (1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.33), for progression to hypertension (1.64; 95% CI, 1.19-2.26), and for sustained high-normal BP or hypertension (1.78; 95% CI, 1.39-2.29). The absolute 10-year cardiovascular risks were 5.1% for optimal or normal BP without progression, 11.1% and 13.9% for progression to high-normal BP or hypertension, respectively, and 18.7% for sustained high-normal BP or hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Progressing from optimal or normal BP to high-normal BP or hypertension carries nearly the same risk as sustained high-normal BP or hypertension.     

Intervention at lower blood pressure levels to achieve target goals in type 2 diabetes: PRADID (PResión Arterial en DIabéticos tipo Dos) study

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, renal insufficiency, and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies all document a reduced risk for the aforementioned consequences at a blood pressure (BP) lower than 130/80 mmHg. For this reason, lower target BPs are recommended by recent guidelines committees. A lower threshold BP for treatment, also proposed in guidelines, could facilitate the attainment of the recommended target BP. However, little data exist on the efficacy and safety of starting pharmacological therapy in type 2 diabetic patients exhibiting high-normal BP (HNBP) or the first stage of isolated systolic hypertension previously considered as borderline isolated systolic hypertension (BISH). OBJECTIVE: To determine the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination of the non-dihydropiridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) and ACE inhibitor verapamil SR/trandolapril 180/2 mg (V + T), versus trandolapril 2 mg (T), versus placebo (P) in previously untreated type 2 diabetic patients diagnosed as having HNBP or BISH. METHODS: Multicentric, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a 16-week follow-up in three groups totalling 438 participants. The primary end-point was to attain the recommended guideline goal of a systolic BP (SBP) value lower than 130 mmHg in all patients and a diastolic BP (DBP) value lower than 85 mmHg in HNBP. Participants were randomized (2:2:1) to verapamil V + T, T, or P. Doses were doubled at week 8 if BP was not controlled. RESULTS: Both active groups were more effective than placebo to decrease SBP and DBP. The mean difference in SBP from placebo was 7.1 mmHg (3.3-10.9, 95% confidence interval (CI); P < 0.001) for T and 7.8 mmHg (3.9-11.6, 95% CI; P < 0.001) for V + T, with no statistical difference between both active groups. Combined treatment (V + T) decreased DBP by 4.6 mmHg (2.3-6.9, 95% CI; P < 0.001) more than placebo and 2.1 mmHg (0.3-4.0, 95% CI; P = 0.021) more than T. At the end of the study, 36.5% in the T group, 37.8% in the V + T group, and 14.9% (P = 0.009, P versus V + T and T) had attained the primary end-point. No significant difference was found between T and V + T with regard to the percentage of good control for SBP, but the control rate on the DBP (DBP < 85 mmHg) was significantly higher in the V + T group (88.8%), when compared with T (79.1%) or P (63.5%) (P = 0.002). Withdrawal rates due to adverse effects did not differ among trandolapril alone (9.4%), the combination (11.7%) and placebo (8.1%). CONCLUSION: Antihypertensive treatment is more effective than placebo for controlling SBP and DBP in previously untreated participants with type 2 diabetes exhibiting low threshold BP values. Combination therapy with verapamil SR/trandolapril was more effective than trandolapril alone for controlling DBP.     

Predicting prognosis in patients with stroke treated with intravenous alteplase through the 24‐h trajectory of blood pressure changes

Blood pressure (BP) monitored within 24 h from the beginning of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase, is one of the important factors affecting the prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to explore longitudinal BP trajectory patterns and determine their association with stroke prognosis after thrombolysis. From November 2018 to September 2019, a total of 391 patients were enrolled consecutively during the study period, and 353 patients were ultimately analyzed. Five systolic (SBP) and four diastolic blood pressure (DBP) trajectory subgroups were identified. The regression analysis showed that when compared with the rapidly moderate stable group, the continuous fluctuation‐very high level SBP group (odds ratio [OR]: 2.743, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.008–7.467) was associated with early neurological deterioration (END). Both the rapid drop‐high level SBP (OR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.219–0.919) and DBP groups (OR: 0.399, 95% CI: 0.219–0.727) were associated with early neurological improvement (ENI). Moreover, there was a U‐shaped correlation between the OR value of SBP trajectory group and favorable outcome (the modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–2) at 3 months: the slow drop‐low level SBP group represent a well‐established unfavorable outcome risk factor (OR:5.239, 95% CI: 1.271–21.595), and extremely high SBP—the continuous fluctuation‐very high level SBP group, are equally associated with elevated unfavorable outcome risk (OR:3.797, 95% CI: 1.486–9.697). The continuous fluctuation‐very high level DBP group was statistically significant in mRS (OR: 3.387, CI: 1.185–9.683). The BP trajectory groups show varying clinical features and risk of neurological dysfunction. The findings may help identify potential candidates for clinical BP monitoring, control, and specialized care.     

Comparison of noninvasive oscillometric and intra-arterial blood pressure measurements in hyperacute stroke

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare automatic oscillometric blood pressure recordings with simultaneous direct intra-arterial blood pressure measurements in hyperacute stroke patients to test the accuracy of oscillometric readings. METHODS: A total of 51 first-ever stroke patients underwent simultaneous noninvasive automatic oscillometric and intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring within 3 h of ictus. Casual blood pressure was measured in both arms using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer on hospital admission. Patients who received antihypertensive medication during the blood pressure monitoring were excluded. RESULTS: The estimation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) using oscillometric recordings underestimated direct radial artery SBP by 9.7 mmHg (95% confidence interval: 6.5-13.0, P<0.001). In contrast, an upward bias of 5.6 mmHg (95% confidence interval: 3.5-7.7, P<0.001) was documented when noninvasive diastolic blood pressure (DBP) recordings were compared with intra-arterial DBP recordings. For SBP and DBP, the Pearson correlation coefficients between noninvasive and intra-arterial recordings were 0.854 and 0.832, respectively. When the study population was stratified according to SBP bands (group A: SBP160 mmHg and SBP180 mmHg), higher mean DeltaSBP (intra-arterial SBP-oscillometric SBP) levels were documented in group C (+19.8 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals: 12.2-27.4) when compared with groups B (+8.5 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals: 2.7-14.5; P=0.025) and A (+5.9 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals: 1.8-9.9; P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Noninvasive automatic oscillometric BP measurements underestimate direct SBP recordings and overestimate direct DBP readings in acute stroke. The magnitude of the discrepancy between intra-arterial and oscillometric SBP recordings is even more prominent in patients with critically elevated SBP levels.     

Removing confounders from the relationship between mortality risk and systolic blood pressure at low and moderately increased systolic blood pressure

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between mortality risk and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at low and moderately increased SBP (less than the 70th percentile) before and after correcting for the regression-dilution bias and J-curve effects. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: The First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study. PARTICIPANTS: The 6839 individuals who participated in the 1982-1984 survey for whom there were no missing data (age range 34-87 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Cardiovascular disease mortality (n = 678) during a 9-year follow-up. METHODS: Corrections were made for the regression-dilution bias by using average SBP during the decade before baseline as the mortality predictor, and for J-curve effects by excluding individuals who exhibited high age-stratified mortality rates and a decrease in SBP. Cox's regression was used to analyse the follow-up relationship between mortality risk and SBP. RESULTS: The corrected relative cardiovascular disease mortality risk was 1.23 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16 to 1.31) for a 10 mmHg increase in SBP. The relationship was monotonically positive starting at the lowest SBP category in the analysis (< 115 mmHg), and robustly so above about the 32nd percentile (120 mmHg). The equivalent uncorrected result was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.13), and the relationship was J-shaped and became positive above about the 68th percentile (135 mmHg). Below the 70th percentile of SBP, individuals in the corrected analysis were 89% of all individuals. CONCLUSION: These two corrections transformed the relationship between mortality risk and SBP at low and moderately increased SBP from no association to a robustly positive association starting at 120 mmHg, for the majority of individuals.     

Association between blood pressure and mortality in 80-year-old subjects from a population-based prospective study in Japan.

Hypertension is one of the greatest risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but the contribution of high blood pressure to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is weakened with aging. In the present study, we examined whether high blood pressure would be a risk factor for total and cardiovascular mortality in a group of very elderly Japanese. Six hundred and thirty-nine participants who were 80 years old in 1997 were enrolled. The subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of their systolic blood pressure (SBP) (below 140 mmHg [group 1, n=212], from 140 mmHg to 159 mmHg [group 2, n=217], over 160 mmHg [group 3, n=210]). During the 4-year follow-up period, 87 individuals died and 24 of these deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases. Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that there was no association between total mortality and SBP levels (relative risk [RR] 1.71; confidence interval [CI] 0.81-3.58; group 3 compared with group 1, p=0.35). However, the subjects taking antihypertensive medication showed significantly higher mortality with increasing SBP level (RR 5.72, CI 1.03-31.6, p=0.04, group 3 compared with group 1). Furthermore, in the subjects with a cardiovascular disease such as angina or stroke, high SBP increased the total mortality (RR 13.4, CI 2.39-75.1, p=0.004, group 3 compared with group 1). The present study did not find an association between blood pressure and mortality in the very elderly. However, our results did suggest that high SBP increases the risk of mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases and/or taking antihypertensive medication.     

Association between mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure throughout the follow‐up and cardiovascular events in acute myocardial infarction patients with systolic dysfunction and/or heart failure: an analysis from the High‐Risk Myocardial Infarction Database Initiative

Background

Observational data have described the association of blood pressure (BP) with mortality as ‘J‐shaped’, meaning that mortality rates increase below a certain BP threshold. We aimed to analyse the associations between BP and prognosis in a population of acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients with heart failure (HF) and/or systolic dysfunction.

Methods and results

The datasets included in this pooling initiative are derived from four trials: CAPRICORN, EPHESUS, OPTIMAAL, and VALIANT. A total of 28 771 patients were included in this analysis. Arithmetic means of all office BP values measured throughout follow‐up were used. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death. The mean age was 65 ± 11.5 years and 30% were female. Patients in the lower systolic BP (SBP) quintiles had higher rates of cardiovascular death (reference: SBP 121–128 mmHg) [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.26–2.74 for SBP ≤112 mmHg, and HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.43 for SBP 113–120 mmHg]. The findings for HF hospitalization and MI were similar. However, stroke rates were higher in patients within the highest SBP quintile (reference: SBP 121–128 mmHg) (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.11–1.72). Patients who died had a much shorter follow‐up (0.7 vs. 2.1 years), less BP measurements (4.6 vs. 9.8) and lower mean BP (–8 mmHg in the last SBP measurement compared with patients who remained alive during the follow‐up), suggesting that the associations of low BP and increased cardiovascular death represent a reverse causality phenomenon.

Conclusion

Systolic BP values <125 mmHg were associated with increased cardiovascular death, but these findings likely represent a reverse causality phenomenon.

     

高血压与外周动脉疾病患病关系的横断面研究

目的探讨北京市年龄≥35岁人群高血压与外周动脉疾病(PAD)的关系。方法 2013年7月至2014年12月采用分层多阶段随机抽样的方法对北京四个区县年龄≥35岁居民进行上臂血压及踝臂血压测量,共检测5 126人。结果高血压组PAD的患病率明显高于无高血压组(6.5%比3.1%,P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示,在校正年龄、性别、体质量指数(BMI)、吸烟、糖尿病、血脂代谢异常以及降压药物的使用后,与正常血压人群相比,正常高值、1级高血压、2级高血压、3级高血压其患PAD的OR(95%CI)分别为1.38(0.87~2.19)、1.68(1.04~2.73)、2.10(1.18~3.73)、5.08(2.57~10.08)。将收缩压设定为连续变量分析,结果显示收缩压每升高10 mm Hg,PAD患病风险增加19%(OR=1.19,95%CI 1.09~1.30);收缩压为120~139、140~159、≥160 mm Hg组患PAD的风险分别为收缩压<120 mm Hg组的1.29(95%CI 0.83~2.01)、1.61(95%CI 1.01~2.60)、2.75(95%CI 1.65~4.60);趋势检验P<0.001;而PAD患病风险与舒张压则关系不明显。在高血压患者中,高血压未治疗组、治疗后未达标组、治疗达标组的PAD患病风险分别为无高血压组的1.45(0.98~2.14)、1.93(1.34~2.78)、1.23(0.83~1.82)。结论高血压可增加PAD患病风险,收缩压升高为PAD的独立危险因素;控制高血压患者升高的血压可以控制PAD患病的风险。