Systemic hypertension and coronary artery disease.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that 60 million people have hypertension, the estimate varying according to whether hypertension is defined as a blood pressure of >140/90 mm Hg or, as has emerged from the Sixth Joint National Commission on Hypertension (JNC VI) consensus conference, of >130/90 mm Hg. Coronary artery disease frequently accompanies hypertension. In our studies of >5,000 patients with coronary artery disease, half had hypertension. The reasons are numerous. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CAD. The incidence of both conditions increases with age, so that the majority of individuals >65 years of age with coronary artery disease probably also have hypertension. Some authorities predict that, due to the increasing size of the elderly population, there will be a doubling in the prevalence of both coronary artery disease and hypertension in the next century. This is of vital concern to all clinicians. This article reviews some of the prevalence and population trends in coronary artery disease and hypertension, and some of the pathogenic mechanisms involved, as well the results of some current outcome trials.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610, USA.
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D001794:Blood Pressure; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers