Multiple biomarkers and the risk of incident hypertension.
An understanding of mechanisms underlying the development of essential hypertension is critical for designing prevention and treatment strategies. Selected biomarkers may be elevated before the onset of hypertension, but previous studies are limited by cross-sectional designs or a focus on single biomarkers. We prospectively studied 1456 nonhypertensive individuals who had baseline measurement of 9 biomarkers: C-reactive protein (inflammation); fibrinogen (inflammation and thrombosis); plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (fibrinolytic potential); aldosterone, renin, B-type natriuretic peptide, and N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (neurohormonal activity); homocysteine (renal function and oxidant stress); and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (glomerular endothelial function). Incident hypertension, defined as blood pressure > or =140/90 mm Hg or antihypertensive therapy, developed in 232 participants over a mean follow-up of 3 years. After adjustment for clinical risk factors, the biomarker panel was significantly associated with incident hypertension (P=0.002). Three (of 9) biomarkers were significantly related to incident hypertension on backward elimination (multivariable-adjusted odds ratios, per SD increment in biomarker): C-reactive protein (1.26; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.51), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (1.28; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.57), and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (1.21; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.43). The incidence of hypertension was 4.5, 6.4, and 9.9 per 100 person years for participants with 0, 1, and > or=2 elevated biomarkers, respectively (elevation defined as > or =1 SD above the mean). The threshold of > or =2 elevated biomarkers for predicting hypertension was associated with high specificity (0.92) but low sensitivity (0.15). Biomarkers of inflammation, reduced fibrinolytic potential, and low-grade albuminuria are jointly associated with the incidence of hypertension. These data support the premise that abnormalities in multiple biological pathways antedate the onset of overt hypertension.
Wang
Thomas J
TJ
Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Mass, USA. tjwang@partners.org
Gona
Philimon
P
Larson
Martin G
MG
Levy
Daniel
D
Benjamin
Emelia J
EJ
Tofler
Geoffrey H
GH
Jacques
Paul F
PF
Meigs
James B
JB
Rifai
Nader
N
Selhub
Jacob
J
Robins
Sander J
SJ
Newton-Cheh
Christopher
C
Vasan
Ramachandran S
RS
D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk
D015415:Biomarkers