Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients

Background. A paradoxical increase in cardiovascular events has been reported with intensively lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This J-curve phenomenon has challenged the aggressive lowering of blood pressure, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. Objective. Our objective was...

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Main Authors: Steven Tringali, Charles William Oberer, Jian Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hypertension
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/178780
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author Steven Tringali
Charles William Oberer
Jian Huang
author_facet Steven Tringali
Charles William Oberer
Jian Huang
author_sort Steven Tringali
collection DOAJ
description Background. A paradoxical increase in cardiovascular events has been reported with intensively lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This J-curve phenomenon has challenged the aggressive lowering of blood pressure, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. Objective. Our objective was to study the effects of low DBP on mortality and determine a threshold for which DBP should not be lowered beyond. Methods. We evaluated a two-year cross-section of primary care veteran patients, from 45 to 85 years of age. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were employed to establish an optimal cut-off point for DBP. Propensity-score matching and multivariate logistic regression were used to control for confounders. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Results. 14,270 patients were studied. An ROC curve found a threshold value of DBP 70 mmHg had the greatest association with mortality (P<0.001). 49% of patients had a DBP of 70 mmHg or less. Using a propensity-matched multivariate logistic regression, odds ratio for all-cause mortality in subjects with a DBP less than 70 mmHg was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3–1.8). Conclusions. Reduction of DBP below 70 mmHg is associated with increased all-cause mortality. Hypertension guidelines should include a minimum blood pressure target.
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spelling doaj-art-9128cb92fcc84238ac200d75e54de7d12025-08-20T02:09:42ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hypertension2090-03842090-03922013-01-01201310.1155/2013/178780178780Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA PatientsSteven Tringali0Charles William Oberer1Jian Huang2Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Central California Health Care System, 2615 E Clinton Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703, USADepartment of Medicine, Veterans Administration Central California Health Care System, 2615 E Clinton Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703, USADepartment of Medicine, Veterans Administration Central California Health Care System, 2615 E Clinton Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703, USABackground. A paradoxical increase in cardiovascular events has been reported with intensively lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This J-curve phenomenon has challenged the aggressive lowering of blood pressure, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. Objective. Our objective was to study the effects of low DBP on mortality and determine a threshold for which DBP should not be lowered beyond. Methods. We evaluated a two-year cross-section of primary care veteran patients, from 45 to 85 years of age. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were employed to establish an optimal cut-off point for DBP. Propensity-score matching and multivariate logistic regression were used to control for confounders. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Results. 14,270 patients were studied. An ROC curve found a threshold value of DBP 70 mmHg had the greatest association with mortality (P<0.001). 49% of patients had a DBP of 70 mmHg or less. Using a propensity-matched multivariate logistic regression, odds ratio for all-cause mortality in subjects with a DBP less than 70 mmHg was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3–1.8). Conclusions. Reduction of DBP below 70 mmHg is associated with increased all-cause mortality. Hypertension guidelines should include a minimum blood pressure target.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/178780
spellingShingle Steven Tringali
Charles William Oberer
Jian Huang
Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
International Journal of Hypertension
title Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
title_full Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
title_fullStr Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
title_full_unstemmed Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
title_short Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients
title_sort low diastolic blood pressure as a risk for all cause mortality in va patients
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/178780
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AT charleswilliamoberer lowdiastolicbloodpressureasariskforallcausemortalityinvapatients
AT jianhuang lowdiastolicbloodpressureasariskforallcausemortalityinvapatients