Medical researchers calculated the dangers of high blood pressure. Even moderately high blood pressure is dangerous. A Japanese study found that people with slightly high blood pressure are twice as likely to succumb to cerebral and cardiovascular diseases, including strokes and heart failures, as those with normal blood pressure.
The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk
The Yokohama City University research team concludes in the an announcement of its research results: ‘The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of such diseases’.
‘The study’s team member Dr. Keisuke Kuwahara, an Associate Professor at the Yokohama City University, said:
“It is necessary to address the risk of disease development from the stage of slightly high blood pressure”
The study encompassed 81,876 people from 20 to 64 years of age. They had regular checkups at their workplaces in the fiscal years 2010 and 2011. They did not receive treatment for hypertension at the time. The researchers conducted follow-up surveys for up to nine years to see the relationship between blood pressure and disease development.
During the survey period, 334 people registered development of cerebral or cardiac vascular disease. 55 were in the high-normal blood pressure group. Their systolic blood pressure reading was 120-129 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure reading was lower than 80 mmHg.
In this group, the participants had 1.98 times the risk of developing cerebral and cardiovascular diseases than their counterparts in the normal blood pressure group (below 120/80 mmHg).
In the group with the elevated blood pressure (130-139/80-89 mmHg), the risk was 2.10 times higher. It was 3.48-7.81 times in the stage 1 to 3 hypertension groups with readings (140/90 mmHg and higher).
What is the CVD risk?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk refers to the probability of a person developing any of a group of conditions involving the heart or blood vessels, such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, and others, within a specified period. This risk is typically quantified to help guide preventive measures, including lifestyle modifications and medical treatments to reduce the likelihood of such diseases developing.
How the CVD Risk is Calculated
The calculation of cardiovascular disease risk involves the use of risk calculators or assessment tools that integrate various individual risk factors to estimate a person’s likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease over a certain period, usually the next 10 years. These tools are based on data from large-scale, population-based studies and are designed to assist healthcare providers in making clinical decisions about prevention strategies.
Factors Considered in Risk Calculations
The common factors included in these calculations of the dangers of high blood pressure are:
– Age: Older age increases risk.
– Sex: Risk profiles differ between males and females.
– Blood Pressure: Higher levels are associated with increased risk.
– Cholesterol Levels: High LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels are risk factors.
– Smoking Status: Current smokers are at higher risk.
– Diabetes Status: Presence of diabetes significantly increases risk.
Additional factors that may be considered include:
– And Family History of Heart Disease: Especially if relatives were affected at a young age.
– Ethnicity: Certain ethnic groups have higher risks.
– Further, the Socioeconomic Status: Lower status can be linked to higher risk due to factors like access to healthcare and healthy food.
Example of Risk Calculation: The ASCVD Risk Estimator
The ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease) Risk Estimator is a tool developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Among other dangers of high blood pressure, it calculates the 10-year risk for heart disease or stroke. Here’s a step-by-step example of how it might be used:
1. Input Personal Health Data: A patient provides their age, sex, race, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and information on diabetes status, smoking status, and treatment for hypertension.
2. Calculation: The tool uses this data to calculate the percentage risk of the patient experiencing a cardiovascular event (like a heart attack or stroke) within the next 10 years.
3. Interpretation:
– A result of less than 5% is considered low risk.
– 5% to 7.5% is borderline risk.
– 7.5% to 20% is intermediate risk.
– More than 20% is high risk.
4. Recommendations: Based on the risk category, the healthcare provider might recommend lifestyle changes, medications like statins, or further testing.
For instance, if a 55-year-old male with no diabetes, who smokes and has a total cholesterol of 210 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol of 55 mg/dL, and untreated systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg, might use the ASCVD Risk Estimator. Suppose the calculator estimates his 10-year risk at 12%. This places him in the intermediate risk category, prompting discussions on smoking cessation, blood pressure management, and possibly starting statin therapy.
Calculations of the dangers of high blood pressure. Further reading
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors – Ada – Ada’s Medical Knowledge Team, Ada, 2024
- Heart Risk Factor Calculators – Cleveland Clinic – Cleveland Clinic, 2024
- Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) – WHO – World Health Organization, 2024
- Risk Calculators – Heart UK – Heart UK
- Calculating Risks of Heart Disease – NHLBI – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022
- Cardiovascular Disease – Cleveland Clinic – Cleveland Clinic
- What is CVD? – World Heart Federation – World Heart Federation
- Heart Disease and Stroke: Your Risk Score – Better Health VIC – Better Health Victoria
- ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus – ACC – American College of Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Risk Calculator App – PAHO – Pan American Health Organization
- SCORE Charts – ESC – European Society of Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Diseases – WHO – World Health Organization
- Calculate Your Heart Age – NHS – NHS
- Cardiovascular Risk Calculator – Mayo Clinic – Mayo Clinic
- LDL ASCVD Risk Estimator – ACC – American College of Cardiology
- Risk Factors for Heart Disease – CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Cardiovascular Disease – NHS – NHS
- CVD Risk Calculator – CVD Check – CVD Check
- Heart-Healthy Living: Risks – NHLBI – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Calculator – UpToDate – UpToDate
