title: [Prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis in participants of the Southern Poland Epidemiological Survey (SPES) with normal blood pressure].
abstract: Results of many studies indicate that cardiovascular diseases develop more often in subjects with blood pressure higher than optimal, but lower than the level, at which the diagnosis of arterial hypertension and implementation of therapy is justifiable. The aims of this study were the assessment of prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis among people with normal blood pressure in a population of Southern Poland (Southern Poland Epidemiological Survey--SPES), the quantitative evaluation of global risk for coronary events in relation to normal blood pressure classes, as well as the estimation of the size of subpopulation of subjects eligible for lipid-lowering treatment. A subpopulation of 15,484 subjects without known hypertension and coronary heart disease with normal blood pressure measurements were chosen from a total of 50,111 participants of the SPES study. There were 5,304 men and 10,180 women, aged from 18 to 87 years. Optimal blood pressure (< 120/80) was observed in 24%, normal (120-129/80-84) in 40% and high normal (130-139/85-89) in 35% subjects. In both sexes, irrespective of blood pressure classes, the most prevalent risk factors were hypercholesterolemia, overweight/obesity and smoking. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (> 200 mg/dl) increased along with blood pressure classes, and the proportion of subjects with cholesterol level > or = 240 was 1.5 times greater in those with high normal (21%), compared to those with optimal blood pressure (13%). The proportion of overweight/obesity was 1.5 times greater in subjects with high normal (50.5%) when compared to those with the optimal blood pressure (32.5%). The global risk for coronary events > 10% was more frequent in subjects with high normal blood pressure. Increase of the proportion of subjects eligible for lipid-lowering therapy from near 0% in women with optimal to approximately 10% in men and 8% in women with high normal blood pressure. A rise of the normal blood pressure class is associated with a clear increase in the prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors and the global coronary risk. An extended medical care should be considered to all subjects with high normal blood pressure and global risk greater than 10%, including lipid-lowering therapy in approximately 10% of this subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Kardiologii Slaskiej Akademii Medycznej w Katowicach.
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skrzypek-Wańha
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sosnowski
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozakiewicz
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tendera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors