Transiently elevated diastolic blood pressure is associated with a gender-dependent effect on cardiovascular risk.
We assessed the morbidity and mortality of subjects with transiently elevated diastolic pressure in the General Practice Hypertension Study Group (GPHSG) population. A total of 23 578 patients (aged 18-65 years) from seven UK general practices were screened in 1974 for a diastolic blood pressure (DBP4) of > or = 90 mmHg. Two further readings of DBP4 determined hypertensive (either DBP4 > or = 90 mmHg) or transient hypertensive (both DBP4 < 90 mmHg) status. Transients (n = 850) were matched with normotensive controls (n = 824) and risk ratios calculated over a mean follow-up of 18.7 years. Rescreening was conducted in six of the practices (n = 20 942) after 7.7 years. Male transients had a higher relative hazard for cardiovascular mortality than controls (11.8%, 8.6%, adjusted relative hazard 1.59, P = 0.056). Female transients had a lower relative hazard for cardiovascular mortality than controls (3.6%, 5.4%, adjusted relative hazard 0.39, P = 0.018). In all, 422 patients with transient hypertension were rescreened along with 367 matched controls. Significantly more transients were on antihypertensive treatment compared with their controls (odds ratio (OR) [95% CI]) for both male (4.2 [1.6-11.1]) and female patients (2.4 [1.0-5.56]) and more untreated female transients developed hypertension. Male transients had a higher rates of diabetes mellitus (adj OR = 5.1, P = 0.04) and stroke (adj OR 15.9, P = 0.03). This study has shown that transiently elevated DBP in GPHSG is associated with a significantly higher risk of later hypertension in men and women and of diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular mortality in men. Women with this condition have a significantly lower cardiovascular mortality.
Wingfield
D
D
Brook Green Medical Centre, Bute Gardens, London, UK. David.Wingfield@gp-E85020.nhs.uk
Grodzicki
T
T
Palmer
A J
AJ
Wells
F
F
Bulpitt
C J
CJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology