Hypertension risk factors

Hypertension Risk Factors and What We Can Do about Them... 

Hocking-Schuler, J. L., O Brien, W. H. (1997). Cardiovascular recovery from stress and hypertension risk factors A meta-analytic review. P.g[Pg.133]

Hypertension is one of the two principal risk factors of many cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and CHF. Individuals are considered hypertensive if their systoHc arterial blood pressure is over 140 mm Hg (18.7 Pa) or their diastoHc arterial blood pressure is over 90 mm Hg (12 Pa). Over 60 million people, or one-third of the adult population in the United States are estimated to be hypertensive (163). About 90% of these patients are classified as primary or essential hypertensive because the etiology of their hypertension is unknown. It is generally agreed that there is a very strong genetic or hereditary component to this disease. 

Another study (84), which enrolled men and women between the ages of 21—55 who had mild hypertension and no recognizable cardiovascular risk factors, showed no significant differences in mortaUty between dmg- and placebo-treated patients. Significant reductions in hypertensive complications were noted, but atherosclerotic complications were not reduced. 

Cardiotoxicity may develop at lower than expected cumulative doses of anthracyclines in patients with risk factors like hypertension, preexisting arrhythmias or valvular disease, advanced age, prior irradiation of the mediastinum. 

Criteria for initiation of drug treatment now take into consideration total cardiovascular risk rather than blood pressure alone, such that treatment is now recommended for persons whose blood pressure is in the normal range but still bear a heavy burden of cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, the role of simultaneous reduction of multiple cardiovascular risk factors in improving prognosis in hypertensive patients is stressed. In addition, more aggressive blood pressure goals are recommended for hypertensive patients with comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus or renal insufficiency. 

Discuss the various types of hypertension and risk factors involved. 

Most cases of hypertension have no known cause. When there is no known cause of hypertension, the term essential hypertension is used. Essential hypertension has been linked to certain risk factors, such as... 

Supplements of 400 Ig/d of folate begun before conception result in a significant reduction in the incidence of neural mbe defects as found in spina bifida. Elevated blood homocysteine is an associated risk factor for atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and hypertension. The condition is due to impaired abihty to form methyl-tetrahydrofolate by methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase, causing functional folate deficiency and resulting in failure to remethylate homocysteine to methionine. People with the causative abnormal variant of methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase do not develop hyperhomocysteinemia if they have a relatively high intake of folate, but it is not yet known whether this affects the incidence of cardiovascular disease. 

Essential hypertension, whose prevalence is increased nearly two-fold in the diabetic population, may be another source of free-radical activity. The vascular lesions of hypertension can be produced by free-radical reactions (Selwign, 1983). In the recent Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Risk Factor Study in Finnish men, a marked elevation of blood pressure was associated with low levels of both plasma ascorbate and serum selenium (Salonen etal., 1988). A few studies report a hypotensive effect of supplementary ascorbate in patients with hypertension, but the actual changes in both systolic and diastolic pressure after ascorbate were not statistically significant in comparison with placebo (Trout, 1991). 

Risk factors for embolic cerebrovascular accidents include previous ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIA), systemic embolism, age >75 yr, moderately or severely impaired left ventricular systolic function, hypertension, diabetes mellitus... 

Symptoms The primary hypertension patient may be asymptomatic or may have major cardiovascular disease risk factors. 

Presentation of Hypertension and Co-existing Risk Factors in a Diabetic Patient... 

Regardless of the initiating process or processes leading to the development of hypertension, the ultimate goal is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and minimize target organ damage. This clearly requires the early identification of risk factors and treatment of patients with hypertension. 

Patients with diabetes and hypertension should initially be treated with either P-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics, or calcium channel blockers. There is a general consensus that therapy focused on RAAS inhibition by ACE inhibitors or ARBs may be optimal if the patient has additional cardiovascular risk factors such as left ventricular hypertrophy or chronic kidney disease.2,3,59,67... 

Factors that predispose an individual to IHD are listed in Table 4—2. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cigarette smoking are associated with endothelial dysfunction and potentiate atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. The risk for IHD increases two-fold for every 20 mm Hg increment in systolic blood pressure and up to eight-fold in the presence of diabetes.5,6 Physical inactivity and obesity independently increase the risk for IHD, in addition to predisposing individuals to other cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes). 

Patients with multiple risk factors, particularly those with diabetes, are at the greatest risk for IHD. Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors related to hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin... 

A major component of any IHD treatment plan is control of modifiable risk factors, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Treatment strategies for dyslipidemia and hypertension in the patient with IHD are summarized in the following paragraphs. Visit chapters in this textbook on the management of hypertension and dyslipidemia for further information. 

Like dyslipidemia, hypertension is a major, modifiable risk factor for the development of IHD and related complications. Unfortunately, awareness, treatment, and control of blood pressure are not nearly enough.30 Aggressive identification and control of hypertension is warranted in patients with IHD to minimize the risk of major adverse cardiac events. Goal blood pressure in patients with IHD is less than 140/90 mm Hg or less than 130/80 mm Hg in patients with diabetes. Because of their cardioprotective benefits, 3-blockers and ACE inhibitors (or ARBs in ACE-inhibitor-intolerant patients), either alone or in combination, are appropriate for most patients with both hypertension and IHD. 

FIGURE 6-9. Decision algorithm for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.27 Risk factors for stroke prior transient ischemic attack or stroke hypertension heart failure rheumatic heart valve disease prosthetic heart valve. Target International Normalized Ratio = 2.5 (range 2 to 3). 

Non-modifiable risk factors include age, gender, race/ ethnicity, and heredity. Ischemic stroke risk is increased in those greater than 55 years of age, in men, and in African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Pacific Islanders. It is also increased in those with a family history of stroke. Modifiable risk factors include a number of treatable disease states and lifestyle factors that can greatly influence overall stroke risk. Hypertension is... 

Hypertension (single most important risk factor)... 

Hyperlipidemia has not clearly been established as a risk factor for stroke, although it is a modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease. Recent studies show that statin use may reduce the incidence of a first stroke in high-risk patients (e.g., hypertension, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) including patients with normal lipid levels. A recent meta-analysis showed a 25% risk reduction for fatal and non-fatal strokes with statin use.4 Patients with a history of MI, elevated lipid levels, diabetes, and... 

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