Early abnormalities of cardiovascular structure and function in middle-aged Korean adults with prehypertension: The Korean Genome Epidemiology study.
BACKGROUND
Prehypertension is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, there are few population-based studies on the changes of cardiovascular structure and function that characterize prehypertension. The aim of this study was to assess whether prehypertension is associated with abnormalities of cardiovascular structure and function in the general Korean population.


METHODS
We analyzed the cross-sectional relationships between prehypertension and cardiovascular structure and function in a sample from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. A total of 1,671 individuals (54.5% women; mean age: 53 ± 6 years) without hypertension and diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Cardiovascular structure and function were assessed by conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), carotid ultrasonography, and pulse wave velocity (PWV).


RESULTS
The left ventricular (LV) mass index was significantly higher in subjects with prehypertension than in those with normotension (41 ± 8 g/m²·⁷ vs. 38 ± 7 g/m²·⁷, P < 0.001). LV diastolic parameters, such as the E/A ratio, TDI E(a) velocity, and E/E(a) ratio, were also impaired in subjects with prehypertension (all P < 0.001). Compared with normotension, prehypertension was characterized by a significantly higher common carotid artery intima-media thickness and a higher brachial-ankle PWV (all P < 0.001). These abnormalities of cardiovascular structure and function remained significant after adjustment for covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
In this population-based cohort, we found that subtle alterations in cardiovascular structure and function were already present at the prehypertensive stage. Whether such subtle alterations convey an increased risk of cardiovascular events and whether the changes are reversible with treatment warrant further study.
Kim
Seong Hwan
SH
Department of Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Goo-Yeong
GY
Baik
Inkyung
I
Lim
Sang Yup
SY
Choi
Cheol Ung
CU
Lim
Hong Euy
HE
Kim
Eung Ju
EJ
Park
Chang Gyu
CG
Park
Juri
J
Kim
Jinyoung
J
Shin
Chol
C
D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left