- Elevated and high blood pressure in late adolescence might signal cardiovascular disease later in life.
- Early detection and treatment of high blood pressure could reduce the risk of stroke and other high blood pressure-related diseases.
- Although women were not included in the study, the idea of managing cardiovascular risk factors is just as important for women as it is for men.
High blood pressure in adolescents is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events later in life, according to a study published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers from Umeå and Uppsala Universities evaluated the medical records of 1,366,519 men who enlisted in the Swedish military between 1969 and 1997.
Military conscription in Sweden was mandated by law for all male citizens, making this a nationwide study. The scientists excluded around 2% of males due to chronic illness or disability.
Their blood pressure reading at enlistment was considered the baseline reading.
The researchers used the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association
About 17% of the participants had normal blood pressure, nearly 29% had elevated blood pressure, and 53% had had blood pressure of more than 130/80 mm Hg.
At the end of an average of almost 36 years follow-up years, the scientists reported:
During the study, the number of cardiovascular disease-related deaths was 22,028. The number of deaths from any cause was 64,759.
The researchers reported that the risk of a cardiovascular event was increased for study participants with elevated and high blood pressure at age 18 and continued to increase as blood pressure increased.
“Blood pressure is not a disease, it is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Jennifer Wong, MD, a cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at…
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