Hypertension - Major Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Hypertension is quantitatively the major risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease, being more common than cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, the other major risk factors. Aim: To evaluate the cardiovascular risks of hypertension. Methods: This prospective study was carried out in outdoor of Multan Institute of Cardiology, Multan during the period from January 2008 to December 2008. A total of 100 individuals were included in the study who was attending outdoor of the hospital. Results: Current risk status of the 100 subjects who developed cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, angina, coronary bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stroke) during the study period was compared with healthy subjects, there were few differences. However, the results were different when the original risk status was used. Those patients who remained healthy had had significantly lower blood pressure (121/79 vs 134/83mmHg) and plasma cholesterol levels (211 vs 226mg/dL [5.45 vs 5.84mmol/L]) 25 years before. Conclusion: Antihypertensive drugs should be instituted if, after several different blood pressure measurements, the average blood pressure is above 140/90.