Key result
In asymptomatic adults, diastolic blood pressure was the strongest predictor of coronary artery calcification in those <50 years (P=0.0088), while pulse pressure was the best predictor in those ≥50 years.
Why the study?
Do different components of blood pressure predict coronary artery calcification differently based on age in asymptomatic adults?
Observational (n=830)
Do different components of blood pressure predict coronary artery calcification differently based on age in asymptomatic adults?
Blood pressure components have age-dependent roles in predicting coronary artery calcification, with diastolic blood pressure being the strongest predictor in younger adults and pulse pressure in older adults.
BP components show age-varying links to CAC; leaves open whether age-specific BP targets alter calcification or events.
OBJECTIVE: The age-dependent roles of the components of blood pressure (BP) in the development of coronary artery calcification (CAC) are poorly understood. DESIGN: We examined systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) as predictors of CAC in 830 asymptomatic, non-diabetic participants in a community-based study who were aged > or = 30 years and free of antihypertensive therapy or known cardiovascular disease. METHODS: CAC was measured with electron beam computed tomography. Tobit regression was used in two age groups (< 50 years and > or = 50 years) to evaluate the relationship of BP components with presence and quantity of CAC, adjusting for traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. RESULTS: Among those aged < 50 years, CAC was positively associated with SBP, DBP and MAP, considering each pressure individually and DBP was the strongest predictor (P = 0.0088). Among those aged > or = 50 years, CAC was positively associated with SBP (P = 0.0257) and PP (P = 0.0028), considered individually. When SBP and DBP were in the same model, presence and CAC quantity were positively associated with SBP (P = 0.0024) and negatively with DBP (P = 0.0401), favoring PP as the best predictor of CAC. CONCLUSIONS: SBP, DBP and PP have age-dependent roles in the prediction of CAC similar to their roles in prediction of future CAD events. These observations provide new evidence supporting the measurement of CAC as a surrogate of target organ disease and subsequently, as a predictor of increased risk of future CAD events.
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Bielak et al. (2004) conducted an observational in Asymptomatic, non-diabetic adults (n=830). Blood pressure components (SBP, DBP, MAP, PP) was evaluated on Presence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC). In asymptomatic adults, diastolic blood pressure was the strongest predictor of coronary artery calcification in those <50 years (P=0.0088), while pulse pressure was the best predictor in those ≥50 years.
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