• Helene Rietz, Johanna Pennlert, Peter Nordström, and Mattias Brunström.
• Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden (H.R., J.P., M.B.).
• Ann. Intern. Med. 2023 Oct 1; 176 (10): 128912981289-1298.

BackgroundNot enough is known about the association between blood pressure (BP) in adolescence and future cardiovascular events.ObjectiveTo measure this association using the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for classifying BP elevation.DesignCohort study.SettingSweden.ParticipantsMales in late adolescence who were conscripted into the military from 1969 to 1997.MeasurementsBaseline BP was measured at conscription. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or first hospitalization for myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemic stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage.ResultsThe study included 1 366 519 males with a mean age of 18.3 years. The baseline BP was classified as elevated (120 to 129/<80 mm Hg) for 28.8% of participants and hypertensive (≥130/80 mm Hg) for 53.7%. During a median follow-up of 35.9 years, 79 644 had a primary outcome. The adjusted hazard ratio was 1.10 for elevated BP (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.13), 1.15 for stage 1 isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) (CI, 1.11 to 1.18), 1.23 for stage 1 isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) (CI, 1.18 to 1.28), 1.32 for stage 1 systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH) (CI, 1.27 to 1.37), 1.31 for stage 2 ISH (CI, 1.28 to 1.35), 1.55 for stage 2 IDH (CI, 1.42 to 1.69), and 1.71 for stage 2 SDH (CI, 1.58 to 1.84). The cumulative risk for cardiovascular events also increased gradually across BP stages, ranging from 14.7% for normal BP to 24.3% for stage 2 SDH at age 68 years.LimitationThis was an observational study of Swedish men.ConclusionIncreasing BP levels in late adolescence are associated with gradually increasing risks for major cardiovascular events, beginning at a BP level of 120/80 mm Hg.Primary Funding SourceVästerbotten County Council, Swedish Society for Medical Research, and Heart Foundation of Northern Sweden.

19 keywords...

hide…