Hypertension
-
The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure defined blood pressure (BP) levels of 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg as prehypertension and those of ≥ 140/90 mm Hg as hypertension. Hypertension can be divided into 3 categories, isolated diastolic (IDH; systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg), isolated systolic (systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mmHg), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg). Although there is clear evidence that isolated systolic hypertension and systolic-diastolic hypertension increase the risks of future vascular events, there remains uncertainty about the effects of IDH. ⋯ Compared with normal BP (<120/80 mmHg), hazard ratios (95% CIs) for CVD were 1.41 (1.31-1.53) for prehypertension, 1.81 (1.61-2.04) for IDH, 2.18 (2.00-2.37) for isolated systolic hypertension, and 3.42 (3.17-3.70) for systolic-diastolic hypertension. Separately significant effects of prehypertension and hypertension subtypes were also observed for coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. In the Asia-Pacific region, prehypertension and all hypertension subtypes, including IDH, thus clearly predicted increased risks of CVD.