Even in young people, high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke

Two studies reveal that people under the age of 40 who suffer from high blood pressure have a higher risk of suffering a cardiovascular event: heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or blockage of blood vessels. The results of these studies have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Treat hypertension earlier for more efficiency

These findings lead researchers to believe that identifying and treating high blood pressure in younger people may have long-term benefits. This could make it possible to reduce the risk of occurrence of a cardiovascular event.

“This is a first step in determining whether high blood pressure should be of concern to younger people as a potential precursor to serious problems,” said Yuichiro Yano, professor in Duke’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, and principal author of the study.

An observational study

The research involved the analysis of 4,800 adults whose blood pressure was measured before they turned 40. Among them, about half are African American and 55% are women. The study was initiated in 1985 on the development of coronary risk in young adults (Cardia).

The participants were divided into four groups based on their blood pressure level. The first is those with normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 120 or greater than 80 diastolic or less). The second group is made up of participants with high blood pressure (120-129 out of less than 80). The third is for those with stage 1 hypertension (130-139 out of 80-89). Finally, the fourth includes stage 2 hypertensives (140 or more out of 90 or more).

The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of cardiovascular events.

Researchers identified participants who experienced cardiovascular problems within 20 years of having their blood pressure measured. A total of 228 events were recorded with an increasingly high rate depending on the level of blood pressure measured. Clearly, the higher the blood pressure measured, the greater the number of cardiovascular incidents in the group.

“Those with high blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension before age 40, had a significantly higher risk of later cardiovascular events than those with normal blood pressure before age 40,” Yuichiro Yano said. .

New definition of hypertension

Since 2017, there has been a new clinical definition of high blood pressure in the United States. Levels have been lowered and the threshold for considering someone to have high blood pressure has been reduced from 140/90mm Hg to 130/80mm Hg. This new measure increases the number of people with high blood pressure by 31.1 million out of a total of 100 million Americans. Worldwide, a billion people are affected.

The new analyzes from the American researchers show that “although this is an observational study, the new blood pressure guidelines are useful in identifying people who may be at risk for cardiovascular events”.

Better understand high blood pressure

In an appended note, also published in the JAMAa professor of medicine at Boston College, Vasan Ramachandran, believes that “there are knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification and management of hypertension in young adults. .”

“How the social determinants of health, changes in culture, customs, diet, health care, and the wear and tear of repeated or chronic stress are all factors that can affect blood pressure young people’s blood pressure,” he wonders.

He believes that medical monitoring of blood pressure needs to be improved and that it is necessary to use the individual characteristics of each person to guide treatment decisions for high blood pressure. “Periodic blood pressure checks should be done at regular medical visits and simple lifestyle measures, such as regular exercise and avoidance of overweight, are likely to be helpful for young adults to maintain optimal blood pressure.