Optimal target blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease in low-risk younger hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations between blood pressure (BP) categories and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in treated hypertensive patients without CVD. METHODS: A cohort study was performed in Korean adults who underwent a comprehensive health examination from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2016 and was followed for incident CVD via linkage to the Health Insurance and Review Agency database until the end of 2016, with a median follow-up of 4.3 years. RESULTS: Among 263,532 participants, 8,418 treated hypertensive patients free of CVD at baseline were included. The incident CVD end point was defined as new hospitalization for CVD, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and transient ischemic attack. During 32,975.6 person-years of follow-up, 200 participants developed new-onset CVD (incidence rate of 60.6 per 10⁴ person-years). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR; 95% confidence intervals [CI]) for CVD according to systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels (comparing SBP < 110, SBP = 120-129, SBP = 130-139, SBP = 140-149, SBP = 150-159, and SBP ≥160 to SBP 110-119 mm Hg [reference]) were 0.83 (0.53-1.30), 1.31 (0.91-1.89), 1.18 (0.74-1.87), 1.46 (0.79-2.72), 3.19 (1.25-8.12), and 5.60 (2.00-15.70), respectively. In multivariable analysis for CVD according to diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, HR (95% CI) of DBP < 60, DBP = 70-79, DBP = 80-89, DBP = 90-99, and DBP ≥100 compared to DBP = 60-69 mm Hg [reference]) were 0.51 (0.12-2.14), 1.13 (0.76-1.67), 1.26 (0.83-1.92), 1.62 (0.89-2.97), and 1.68 (0.51-5.55), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of middle-aged treated hypertensive patients, SBP < 120 mm Hg and/or DBP < 70 mm Hg were acceptable and showed a trend of protection of incident CVD.