Objective: To provide epidemiological data for the revision of The National Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension through the analysis of the association between blood pressure (BP) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in a cohort aged 35-64 years.
Methods: A prospective study was carried out in 11 provinces from 1992 to 2002. The association between BP and CVD (CHD and stroke) was analyzed in 31728 subjects aged 35 - 64 years.
Results: (1) Compared with BP < 110/75 mmHg, the risk of CVD increased 1 time (RR=2.09), 2 times (RR=3.23), and 10 times (RR=11.81) when BP was 120-129/80-84 mmHg, 140-149/90-94 mmHg, and > or = 180/110 mm Hg, respectively. (2) The risk of acute CHD for subjects with stage 2 hypertension was 2.3 times of those with optimal BP, whereas the risk of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke was 4.9 times and 11.7 times, respectively. (3) 36.1% of all CVDs, 44.0% of the acute stroke and 23.7% of the acute CHD were attributable to hypertension. (4) In each BP level, the 10-year risk of CVD increased with the increased number of other risk factors.
Conclusions: The risk of CVD increases with BP continuously from BP of 110/75 mmHg. Therefore, the cutpoint of the diagnostic criteria for hypertension is arbitrary. Comprehensive intervention for multiple risk factor clustering should be strengthened to reduce the overall risk of CVD.