Evaluation of Cardiovascular and Cerebral Complications in Individuals with High Normal Blood Pressure in Kermanshah (1998-2002)

Introduction: In this recent study in Kermanshah, the cardiovascular and cerebral complications due to high normal blood pressure during a four-year follow–up period have been investigated.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive follow-up study in which about 1900 citizens (over 19 years old) in Kermanshah, were randomly selected in clusters and undergone measurements of blood pressure twice.

Results: In this study 197 individuals out of 220 with high normal blood pressure were investigated by measuring their blood pressure in 1998 and 2002. The history of cerebrovascular accident(CVA), myocardial infarction and unstable angina was determined on the basis of the data of admission and CT Scan. During the past four years, 38% of those with high normal blood pressure became hypertensive(blood pressure >140/90 mmHg). With regards to cardiovascular events, 13.7 percent of  females and 5.5 percent of males under 65 years old had suffered from myocardial infarction and unstable angina(p<0.05). The rate of CVA in males and females under the age of 65 was approximately 1% and 0.25% respectively. The rate of myocardial infarction and unstable  angina  in males & females  over the age of 65 were 21.4% & 76.9% resepectively .

Conclusion: In our study in Kermanshah, 14.2 percent of individuals with high normal blood pressure suffered from cerberovascular complications during the four-year period, which is similar to other world data. Another interesting point in this study is that cardiac events in females with high normal blood pressure were more common than males(P<0.05). There is a significant correlation (p<0.05) between cigarette smoking and high body mass index and cerebro-cardiovascular events.