title: Relation of systemic blood pressure to sudden cardiac death.
abstract: The role of systolic blood pressure (SBP) as an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) is not well defined in a general population. Thus, we assessed the association between BP at rest and risk of SCD. BP and other risk factors were measured in a representative population-based sample of 2,666 Finnish men (42 to 61 years of age). During an average follow-up period of 18.9 years (interquartile range 17.9 to 22.6), 213 SCDs occurred. Each increment 10-mm Hg of SBP at rest was associated with an increased risk of SCD (relative hazard 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.25, p <0.001) after adjustment for age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, body mass index, left ventricular hypertrophy, previous myocardial infarction, family history of coronary heart disease, and use of antihypertensive medications. Men with increased SBP of >145 mm Hg had a 2.04-fold (95% confidence interval 1.23 to 2.52, p = 0.003) adjusted risk for SCD compared to those with SBP <123 mm Hg. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of the definition of SBP at rest because it provides a valuable prognostic measurement for SCD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. jariantero.laukkanen@uef.fi
authors.forename: Jari Antero
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.forename: J Richard
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauhanen
authors.forename: Timo Heikki
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mäkikallio
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ronkainen
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors