Clustering of risk factors and the risk of new-onset hypertension defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline

J Hum Hypertens. 2020 May;34(5):372-377. doi: 10.1038/s41371-019-0232-9. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Abstract

The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) lowered the diagnostic criteria for hypertension. We aimed to explore whether clustering of multiple risk factors are associated with the risk of new-onset hypertension defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline. Subjects who attended ≥2 annual health examinations without baseline hypertension and cardiovascular disease were included. Hypertension was defined according to the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline. Seven predefined risk factors, including age, resting heart rate, overweight or obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, impaired glucose regulation, and a poor estimated glomerular filtration rate, were analyzed. A composite, individual-level, cumulative score incorporating these seven risk factors (no = 0 point; yes = 1 point; total range of 0-7 points) was calculated. The association between the cumulative score and the risk of hypertension was analyzed using a Cox regression model. A total of 4424 (21.6%) of 20,190 subjects included had new-onset hypertension during a follow-up duration of 3.6 years. Compared with subjects with 0 points, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the development of hypertension for those with 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 points were 1.21 (1.07-1.38), 1.34 (1.19-1.52), 1.44 (1.26-1.63), and 1.64 (1.44-1.87), respectively (P < 0.001), after adjustment for sex and baseline blood pressure. Age, resting heart rate, overweight/obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, impaired glucose regulation, and a poor estimated glomerular filtration rate are associated with an increased risk of future hypertension. When these factors are combined, there is an accumulated increase in risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure
  • Cardiology*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology